Sprekelia formosissima : Aztec lily, Jacobean lily, St. James lily

Sprekelia - name of some guy in Hamburg who visited Linnaeus; formosissima - not sure why, maybe something to do with dispersal of seeds by ants, maybe not

My Sprekelia is in full flower!   It broke bud a couple of days ago, but it took a while to unfurl.

As it opens, it lays its long, lurid stamens out for all to see.   The maroon filaments and unopened anthers look sensual and alluring.   However, when the anthers flip and expose the yellow pollen it becomes frivolous and comical.   Note to self: don't wear a yellow tie with a maroon outfit if I want to be sexy.

Sprekelias are reliable, floriferous perennials for many gardeners on the West Coast and in the South.   When I first went to Los Angeles to shoot the intro for "Rally 'Round the House", I saw spectacular specimens.   Across from Regina Bell's house on the edge of a retaining wall was a stand of blooming Aztec lilies.   There was more than one stem per bulb and the flowers were massive.   Some stood over two feet tall.  

Long maroon anthers flip to reveal bright yellow pollen

In cold climates they must be grown in pots or treated like other summer bulbs.   They have not been floriferous for me.   Even though only one of several is going to bloom, this is the first time in about four years that they have done anything, so you can understand my jubilation.  

This year it gets another good baking on the roofdeck.   Plus I will feed them regularly.   I want to get a stand like across from "baby come to me" house in LA.

Deep red Sprekelia (bottom) and Hippeastrum bud (upper left) clash with this spring scene

Design-wise, Sprekelia is a beautiful and interesting flower but the dark red does not fit with springtime.   The leaves of the serviceberry, sage, hyssop, and lettuces are a soft, bright spring green.   The yellows of the chlidanthus and the basket-of-gold echo the yellows of spring daffodils.   Clashing with all, there is the vermillion Aztec lily.   Sprekelia red is not like tulip red, but closer to lily red.  

Even its bright leaves seem to clash with the flower.   Sprekelia would fit better in July when the greens are deeper and less spry.   But I will take it when I can get it .