Unknown house plant help please

Please see a link below to a pic of this plant. I bought it at a plant sale for 50P because I felt sorry for it. It's been in my cold greenhouse all summer(if thats what you can call it), and now it has started to flower. It has a large reddish bulb. I cannot find it in any of my books. Can anyone identify it for me please?



http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/stonycoral/DSC_0027.jpg

stony

 

It looks like a shoehorn plant.

 

Hi there stony, it looks like it could be a Haemanthus albiflos, also known as the 'shaving brush' plant. They are as tough as old boots, but best kept in a light place out of direct sunlight. They are hardier than commonly thought, I had mine outdoors for a couple of winters before the last one saw it off.

 

Clueless1, what's a shoehorn plant?

 

Sorry, I was being friday afternoonish. I observed that the leaves are shaped like shoe horns.

 

:hehe::hehe::D

 

Beat me to it, Blackthorn, but I had to do a search. You are indeed correct with Haemanthus albiflos ... strongyloden identified for me three years ago ...



I have now had this plant for some 25 or more years, originally as a houseplant in the UK and for 8 here outdoors in a rockery ... actually, must go look to see if it's still there!

Stony, here's a good link to it ...

http://www.plantzafrica.com/planthij/haemanalbif.htm


clueless1, I always called it the Toilet Brush plant ... :hehe:

 

I just new that I would get an answer on here:gnthb:

Thanks to all, and the web site address gives every facet of info that I could possibly need.

Stony.

 

Yours looks lovely and healthy Victoria, and I think I will now call them the Toilet Brush plant :D

 

There is a plant whose proper name I don't know, which I've always called the toilet brush. It is a tall plant with sort of deep pink/crimson brush like heads, sometimes seen at the back of a border or among a hedge.

 

Callistemon by any chance - the Bottle Brush? Though Bog Brush would probably do :D

 

I've just googled it. Yes it seems you're right. And yes we call it bog brush, I just said toilet brush to be polite, but seeing as you said it:gnthb:

 

I've just seen this, late as usual!!:D

 

:hehe::hehe: Strongy, I note that you chose not to make mention of the not very nice name of your beloved Callistemon.