Boophane disticha (aka Boophone disticha)

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

Unfortunately Boophane disticha this has never flowered for me, but I live in hope.  I think I read somewhere at one point that this bulb needed 15 leaves to be flowering size..... this year it has 17 so I live in hope.    The leaf arrangement alone is worth growing this plant for, and I just love it.  Very artistic.    I've posted the second pic in the arty topic as well.

Now, I see the pics of this species with the flowers emerging from a dormant bulb..... mine here are virtually evergreen from memory, although a bit ratty in winter I think, so does this mean mine will never flower?    Now I'm starting to wonder whether my memory of these still having leaves in winter is wrong?   I am not even sure what time of year they flower, but I'm guessing early spring?  Hopefully with a good set of leaves on it this year I might be lucky come spring?

[George-Oz]

Hey Paul,  that is a very beautiful plant. Even without flower.
How old is it?  My guess is 15 years +...

[Heinie]

Paul,

That bulb is old and large enough to have flowered already. I have some B disticha bulbs that flower with a diameter of 60mm to 70mm. The bulb must have a dormant period when water is withheld completely. Here they flower in December/January the flower will emerge first and set seeds and only then the leaves will grow out once the dry head has broken off. I posted some photos of some of mine not so long ago.

[Maggi Young]

Heinie: I posted some photos of some of mine not so long ago.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4970.msg135136;topicseen#msg135136

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4971.msg135346;topicseen#msg135346   

[Heinie]

Maggi,

Thank you for your efficiency once more.

[Paul T]

Heinie,

Thanks for the info.  It has been in a pot up until this year, so we shall see how differently it behaves in the coming spring/summer.  Everything is crossed.  I would (and do) grow it for the leaves anyway, but I would love to see flowers on it one of these years.

George,

I don't recall how old this bulb is.  I think I bought it as a small bulb probably something like 8 or 10 years ago, but I'm not entirely sure.  I have a few that have survived from seed sowing in the past as well, so it remains to see how long they'll take to get to flowering size.

[angie]

Hi Paul

Great Boophane, I hope to get leaves on mine. After planting mine upside down I think it sulking now. Can't blame it 
Hope you get a flower soon.

Angle 

[ArnoldT]

Looks good Paul.  I think there are both winter and summer growing Boophone disticha.  I have some for ten years and they rest during our winter and usually come into growth in March.  The spend the winter in a cool basement w/o any water

[steveball1966]

I have just got one from S.A its about 350mm long and 150mm diameter any Idea how old this might be

[Heinie]

Steve,

That is one mighty large and old bulb for a B disticha. My guess would be well over 30 years old.

[steveball1966]

I have measured the lengh and it is near 275 mm long and 140 diametre exact got the wife cloth tape out I am still very impressed

[ArnoldT]

I think it's Boophone

[Maggi Young]

Boophone disticha- so it is, sorry, thread name changed now

Boophane  is quite commonly seen of course. 

[ArnoldT]

Or you could call it "Ox-murder"

[steveball1966]

Try sore-eye flower have a look on this site it is possibly the best I have seen for S.A plants
http://www.plantzafrica.com/index.html