Cyrtanthus species A-C are found on this wiki page
Cyrtanthus Hybrids - Cyrtanthus D-J - Cyrtanthus K-O - Cyrtanthus P-Z - Cyrtanthus index
Cyrtanthus angustifolius is found on mountain slopes and flats in seasonal streams and marshes. It flowers spring to summer, occasionally in winter after a fire. Photo taken in a burned area (Sandy’s Glen) in the Overberg by Cameron McMaster
Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus is found in moist grassland or rocky streambanks in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Although it is not as flashy or as big as other species, it is one of the easier ones to grow with nice orange flowers and is often evergreen in cultivation. Their main flowering period is in spring and summer, and they make good container and garden subjects. This one started blooming in February 2003 and is still blooming in May 2003. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Susan Hayek for Diana Chapman and from Alessandro Marinello.
Cyrtanthus brachysiphon is native to KwaZulu-Natal where it is found on moist rock ledges near waterfalls. It grows to 16 cm. Photos from Alessandro Marinello.
Cyrtanthus breviflorus has bright yellow flowers and flowers mainly in spring and summer, but sporadic blooms may appear throughout the season. It is part of the fire lily group and would normally need fire to stimulate flowering, but Greg Pettit has managed to get a clone from the swamps that thrives in water, and produces up to 14 canary yellow flowers per plant. This first photo taken by Bob Rutemoeller shows plants blooming in Harry Hay's gardensin May 2004. The next three photos were taken by Cameron McMaster, including one showing locusts on the seed pods
The first photo below is of a very floriferous form with semi-terete, succulent leaves - a real beauty! It grows (in profusion) on a hillside near the city of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Photo (excuse the distracting background!) by Rogan Roth. The second photo from Byron Amerson is an image of 2 month old seedlings sown from seeds purchased from Silverhill Seeds.
Cyrtanthus carneus is one of the largest Cyrtanthus in the genus, growing very old and developing massive bulbs. It is also very rare and localised and most populations are severely threatened by alien vegetation. It is evergreen and has long, broad tough leaves. We have found it in a few places growing in fynbos in acid table mountain sandstone soil - in valleys on the northern side of the mountains near Napier where we live. It is shy to flower but when it does, it has very large flowers born on stems up to 70cm high. Capsules take a long time to mature and ripen. Photos by Cameron McMaster of plants in habitat in the Overberg including the last of seed capsules.
Cyrtanthus clavatus This dwarf, white, cream or pale pink-flowering species from the Eastern Cape, with red-brown or green median stripes is dormant in winter and flowers in summer, and the bulbs should be planted with the necks just above ground level. Photo by Bill Dijk
Cyrtanthus contractus is widespread in the Eastern Cape where it is found from the inland areas northward. It occurs in various habitats, sometimes in open grassland where it flowers in October or earlier if stimulated by fire. Photos by Digby Boswell and Cameron McMaster including a habitat shot
Cyrtanthus Hybrids - Cyrtanthus D-J - Cyrtanthus K-O - Cyrtanthus P-Z - Cyrtanthus index