Cyrtanthus

Cyrtanthus falcatus -- Shepherd's Crook, Cliff Lily -- This lovely member of the Amaryllis family has a unique stem that grows straight up, then, at the top, curls downward like a shepherd's crook, with the multi-flower inflorescence hanging from it. The long tube flower is a study in pastels, including yellow green, pale pink, and reddish pink, with maroon stripes. They are around one and a half inches long, and the whole plant is about a foot tall. Leaves are sickle-shaped. This species grows only in the Drakensburg Mountains, on vertical cliffs, with the bulbs often lying on their sides and the roots anchored in rock crevices. Although easy to grow, some growers say the bulbs need to be exposed to near-freezing temperatures to produce flowers. However, they can't freeze. Zone 9.

Cyrtanthus mackenii -- Authorities can't seem to agree as to what color this species is, especially with respect to the variety (some say subspecies) below. We are going to say that C. mackenii is orange and the variety 'Cooperi' yellow, but there are those who would say that the reverse is true, or that the species is white and the variety yellow, or vice versa. If you don't like our naming choice, you can rip out our pot tag and insert your own. See description below and change the color to orange.