Haemanthus albiflos flowerhead

White flowerheads are produced by Haemanthus albiflos, but also by H. humilis, the rabbit’s ear that may also flower pink. H. albiflos, the white painted lady, generously flowers any time during the year apart from late spring into the beginning of summer. This blooming season may be shorter though, peaking in autumn.

The large bulb produces a sturdy annual flower stalk topped with a white brush-like flowerhead, a compact umbel, replete with small funnel-shaped flowers. Tall white stamens protrude from the flowers as in the picture, adorned with yellow anthers.

The fleshy broad bracts at the flowerhead base taper to rounded tips. Their whitish surfaces have fine green parallel lines near these tips (Manning, 2009; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984).