Karoo Lily (Ammocharis coranica)

Karoo lily (Ammocharis coranica) is a rare, summer-dormant bulb native to the Karoo region of South Africa. A member of the Amaryllidaceae family, it's grown for its spectacular, large, pink, fragrant flower heads that emerge after rain.

Description

Bulbous perennial. Leaves are strap-shaped, gray-green, appear after flowering. Inflorescence is a dense umbel 6–8 inches across, borne on a stout stem 12–18 inches tall, with 20–40 flowers. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, pink, fragrant, with prominent stamens. Blooms in summer after rain (or watering). Foliage grows in winter.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 9–11 (winter grower, summer dormant).
• Light: Full sun.
• Soil: Very well-drained, sandy/gritty, poor.
• Water: Winter moisture; completely dry summer dormancy. Water to trigger bloom.
• Temperature: Mild winters; protect from hard freeze.

Care & Maintenance

Plant bulbs with neck at surface. Water in fall to start growth. Withhold water in summer. Fertilize lightly in winter. Rarely offsets; propagate from seed.

Uses

Specialist bulb collections, rock gardens, Mediterranean-climate gardens. Collector's item.

Potential Issues

Bulb rot if watered in summer. Requires strict summer drought. Rare in cultivation.

A desert jewel that blooms on command—water in summer, wait for pink fireworks.