Ammocharis

Ammocharis

This genus comprises five or so species in Southern Africa. The genus has been swollen by a recent merger with Cybistetes and the transfer in of Crinum nerinoides.

Ammocharis are frost-tender, summer-growing bulbs for cultivation under glass in the UK. They are not difficult in almost any sandy, or well-drained, soil-based compost but the bigger species really need a large root run to do well. This allows the searching root system adequate resources of food and water.

In time they develop into large bulbs, clothed with thick, horny scales of insulation formed by dead leaf sheaths (these are sharp and you will need to watch your fingers if you decide to clean them off, they can penetrate gloves!).

As with almost all Amaryllidaceae they sulk after flowering, especially as they have to re-establish their root system, please be patient, however this will give you time to prepare for the spectacular display that the larger species make.



Available for ordering from Spring and Autumn lists.

Products

Ammocharis coranica Knopieskop form

Ammocharis coranica Knopieskop form

This is a superb strong growing form which was originally discovered in arid Acacia savannah in Limpopo province, South Africa, (where it grows in heavy loam soil). It was so good that it was subsequently taken into cultivation.

In time this form makes colossal bulbs which bear great big umbels of 40 – 50 rich wine red flowers.

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Ammocharis coranica Knopieskop formammcorKNOP £67.50
Large. At least 11cm across (diameter not circumference!) by at least 15cm tall
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Ammocharis coranica Knopieskop formammcorKNOPspecimens £79.50
Specimens. At least 15cm across (diameter not circumference!) by at least 20cm tall
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Ammocharis coranica Legonyane form

Ammocharis coranica Legonyane form

A lovely form and one of our most popular, when it is available. This makes large bulbs which, when mature, can carry two, or even three flowering stems each.

In turn each of the short stems holds a globe of tubular flowers of rich pink, which darken further soon after opening, but then hold their condition for a good time, slowly reflexing along the length of their petals.

This is a very vigorous strain raised from material originally traceable to Acacia scrub around Legonyane in the N. W. Province of S. Africa.

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Ammocharis coranica Legonyane formammlegoFlowering £92.50
Nice, flowering sized bulbs, around 900gm each
Ammocharis coranica Legonyane formammlegoLargeflowering £99.50
Selected, larger flowering sized bulbs, around 1050gm each

Ammocharis coranica Nongoma

Ammocharis coranica Nongoma

A new form, with medium-sized, tight ball-heads of flowers. These flowers are of a superb, dark, pinkish-red. The form is found sparingly around the Nongoma area of Kwazulu in Natal. The area is now being developed with housing and grazing.

This is not a big-bulbed form but those offered below are on the large side for this geographical variant.

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Ammocharis coranica NongomaammcornonLarge £65.00
Good, large, flowering-sized bulbs, approx 9cm by approx 14cm.
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Ammocharis coranica Thaba Sekhukhune

Ammocharis coranica Thaba Sekhukhune

This form is particularly impressive. There are usually two, and sometimes three, flower stems to each bulb and each umbel can have 45 or more flowers. These are very beautiful.

The tips of the petals are pinkish cream when they first open - the remainder a dark pinkish red. The petals later reflex for almost half their length, about a day after opening and the pinkish colour then darkens on the white area of the petal. The individual flowers are big, each being 3 – 5cm wide.

From stock traceable to the Thaba Sekhukhune range in Sekhukhuneland, Limpopo Province.

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A. coranica Thaba Sekhukhune SelectedammcorthaSpecimens £81.50
large specimen bulbs at least 12cm wide by 14cm tall, selected from our stock
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