Brunsvigia orientalis (L.) Ait. ex Eck.

Horticultural & Botanical History

First botanically described as Amaryllis orientalis by Linnaeus in 1753 [Sp. Pl. p.293/1753]. Transferred to Brunsvigia as Brunsvigia orientalis by Aiton, this name validated by Christian Ecklon in 1827 [Topogr. Verz. Pflanzensamml. Ecklon p.7/1827].

‘Native of the Cape of Good Hope, whence it is said in the Hortus Kewensis to have been introduced by Mr. Malcolm, in 1767; it had however been cultivated by the author of the Gardener’s Dictionary [Miller], previous to that period.  Known in the Dutch and Italian gardens nearly a century and a half ago.  The older Botanists supposed it to be an East-Indian vegetable, an error that misled Linnaeus into the adoption of the specific name of orientalis.’  [BM t.1619/1814]. 

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [B.52/1843].  There is no information on its introduction to the gardens but it is likely to have been grown well before 1843. Recently reintroduced to the gardens together with the orange flowered form ‘Katherinae’ which is somewhat easier to grow.

Notes