Impala Lily

Afrikaans name: Impalalelie

Impala Lilies get beautiful flowers

Photo © Steven Herbert

Adenium multiflorum

The Impala Lily is one of the stunning plants that you will find in many of the camps in Kruger National Park. Although these plants put on a fantastic show in the 'safety' of a park camp, they do not get the chance to do so in the wild as many species of mammal eat them.

The Impala Lily can grow to a height of 3 metres but is most often 1.5 metres or less. They are rather ugly plants but that makes them interesting. The bark is grey and colour and is smooth. As winter approaches, they lose their leaves, and this is the signal that the main attraction is on its way! They soon start showing their beautiful pink and white star-shaped flowers. This is what makes them so popular. Soon after the flowers have died then the new leaves start appearing.

Impala Lilies in Kruger National Park

Photo © Steven Herbert

Impala Lilies favour dry woodland areas. They are a succulent plant that stores water in their trunks. Although they are very hardy plants, they cannot withstand frost. If you happen to buy one at a nursery, then this must be considered. They do well in containers which allows you to move them to shelter when the temperatures drop.

References and further reading

Succulent Flora of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Doreen Court - Published: 2010 - Page: 182

Whats that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 127

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 959

The Gardener - 2010/06 - Author: - Published: 2010 - Page: 34

Succulent Flora of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Doreen Court - Published: 2010 - Page: 201

SA Wild Flower Guide No 4 - Transvaal Lowveld - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1984 - Page: 152

Sasol First Field Guide to Succulents of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: John Manning - Published: 2018 - Page: 42

Sasol First Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Southern Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 1999 - Page: 35

Illustrated Guide to the Wildflowers of Northern South Africa - Author: Gerrit Germishuizen & Brenda Clarke - Published: 2003 - Page: 84

Guide to Succulents of Southern Africa - Author: Gideon Smith & Neil Crouch - Published: 2009 - Page: 14

Gardening with Indigenous Shrubs - Author: David and Sally Johnson, Geoff Nichols - Published: 2002 - Page: 12

Discovering Wild Flowers in Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Sima Eliovson - Published: 1969 - Page: 124

Field guide to Succulents of Southern Africa - Author: Gideon Smith & Neil Crouch - Published: 2017 - Page: 81

Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of South Africa (updated edition) - Author: John Manning - Published: 2019 - Page: 258

Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 2009 - Page: 258

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 324

A Field Guide to Wild Flowers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 2005 - Page: 416

For more info: SANBI

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