Meet Haemanthus coccineus, native to South Africa, perhaps better known as the Paintbrush or Blood Lily from the Amaryllidaceae family. It grows really well in a pot and seems to flourish each year without too much attention. The flowers emerge quite quickly from the large bulbs in late summer usually after it rains, then are followed by enormous fleshy leaves that remain until early spring.

They do well in a garden situation where they are shaded from the hot afternoon sun and the soil is well drained. Well at least in my sister’s garden, where it was quite evident that she had far too many, hence the kidnapping of this showy little number a few years ago.