Only 131 results in a search on Google for Cyrtanthus epiphyticus – a good indication that this South African plant is poorly known. The epithet epiphyticus suggests it grows on trees (its common name is tree lily), but this plant at UBC does not seem to be that fussy – it grows in well-draining gravel in the alpine garden.

Despite the relative obscurity of both this species and the genus Cyrtanthus as a whole, one enthusiast has provided a wealth of information online – the New Zealander Bill Dijk. Bill has not only published photographs online (Cyrtanthus on the Pacific Bulb Society Wiki), but also written a long account of the plants with descriptions and cultivation guidelines: see Cyrtanthus introduction 1 and introduction 2 for these text articles.

Photography resource link: Photographing the Art of Nature – two essays (so far) from landscape photographer Bruce Heinemann. Spectacular photographs in his galleries, as well.