Veltheimia Capensis - Forest Lily Pink

Originating from the dryer part of Western South Africa, Veltheimia Capensis - Forest Lily Pink is a highly sought after Autumn and Winter flowering bulb. Featuring striking rosettes of wavy edged blue green foliage and densely packed upright stems of dusky pink flowers, this deciduous bulb makes a wonderful potted display and looks extremely impressive when grown in a clump or drift in a well drained garden bed.

Veltheimia capensis will grow well in a sunny or partly shaded position. Preferring a dry position whilst dormant, it will appreciate regular watering during the growing season making it an easy plant to care for in areas that have natural Autumn and Winter rainfall. Potted plants can be grown indoors or in a sheltered position but care needs to be taken to keep them dry during their dormant period. For best results plant bulbs with most of the bulb out of the soil in a rich, well drained soil and leave undisturbed for many years. A general purpose slow release granular fertilizer and/or seaweed derived liquid fertilizer can be used during the growing season.

If grown in pots, Veltheimia should be re-potted every 2-3 years, and any offsets or young bulbils present can be removed and potted on. Offsets in garden beds can be removed in summer when the foliage has died down and replanted immediately, 30 - 40 mm deep. Juvenile bulbs should reach flowering size in about 3-4 years, and mature bulbs will sometimes miss a season for flowering, displaying their attractive foliage only for the season.