Also known as Blood Flower · Blood Lily · Cape-Tulip
Haemanthus coccineus, commonly known as April Fool, is a striking South African bulbous plant celebrated for its vivid scarlet flower heads in spring.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Bright, indirect light
75% intensity
Prefers full sun to partial shade during its growing season, but protect from intense afternoon sun.
Moderate during growth, minimal during dormancy
50% intensity
Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings in growing season. Keep very dry in summer.
Well-drained, Sandy, Gritty
50% intensity
Mild to warm
50% intensity
Prefers temperatures between 15°C and 25°C during the growing season. Can tolerate cooler temperatures during dormancy.
Moderate during growing season
50% intensity
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength monthly from autumn to spring.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
None
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water moderately during the active growing season (autumn to spring), allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Reduce watering significantly during its summer dormancy, keeping the soil barely moist to prevent bulb rot. Ensure good drainage to avoid waterlogged conditions.
Pruning is generally minimal. Remove any spent flower stalks after blooming to prevent seed formation and direct energy back to the bulb. Trim any dead or yellowing foliage as it appears, ensuring clean cuts at the base.
This helps maintain plant health and appearance.
Propagate by offsets, which are small bulbs that form around the parent bulb. Carefully separate these offsets during repotting when the plant is dormant. Plant the offsets in well-draining potting mix.
Alternatively, grow from seed, which can take several years to flower.
Repot every 2-3 years, or when the bulbs have become crowded. The best time to repot is during the summer dormancy when the plant is not actively growing.
Use a gritty, well-draining potting mix, and ensure the bulbs are planted with the top of the bulb just at or slightly above the soil surface.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of April Fool (Haemanthus coccineus)
Where April Fool (Haemanthus coccineus) is found
Density
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Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Asparagales |
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
| Genus | Haemanthus |
| Species | Haemanthus coccineus |
Similar in genus Haemanthus
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
