Gethyllis cavidens Vanrhyndorp (Adult 2023)

Gethyllis is a southern African genus from the Amaryllis family with unusual, often spirally twisted foliage held in sheaths and lovely flowers and fruits. In order to avoid the stress of their dry environments they flower in midsummer, fruit in autumn, and grow foliage in winter. If ever there was a plant that looked more sea creature or alien than botanical, it would be G. cavidens. It has a white stem that emerges from a tan sheath covered in burgundy-black spots and then opens into blue-green, twisty, tentacle-like leaves. The white flowers have six tepals around bright yellow anthers and are strongly and sweetly fragrant. The yellow berry-like, finger-length fruits are fragrant when ripe. Grow in a deep container in sharply draining mix. When plants are dormant move to a cool, dry place and do not water. Extremely rare. You’ll be one of the few people in the world to grow this species. Our nursery-grown bulbs are adult blooming size as of 2023.