Josephine's Candlestick Plant Care
Brunsvigia josephinae [Ker-Gawl.]
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Brunsvigia josephinae, commonly called Josephine's lily or candelabra lily, is a deciduous, subtropical species of Brunsvigia originating from South Africa. It is marked by deep pink to red flowerheads which are about 12 to 15 inches long.
Every 14–21 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Josephine's Candlestick?
Water Josephine's Candlestick every 14–21 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Josephine's Candlestick Native To?
What Is the Josephine's Candlestick?
Josephine's Candlestick (Brunsvigia josephinae) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Brunsvigia genus. Josephine's Candlestick is native to South Africa. Josephine's Candlestick is also known as Candelabra Lily.
Josephine's Candlestick displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Josephine's Candlestick produces large clusters of pink or red trumpet-shaped flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Josephine's Candlestick?
Brunsvigia josephinae requires watering every 14–21 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 14–21 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Josephine's Candlestick Need?
Josephine's Candlestick thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Josephine's Candlestick Prefer?
Brunsvigia josephinae grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Josephine's Candlestick prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Josephine's Candlestick?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Josephine's Candlestick to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Josephine's Candlestick?
Feed Josephine's Candlestick every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Josephine's Candlestick?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Josephine's Candlestick?
Josephine's Candlestick can be propagated through seeds, offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to brunsvigia bosmaniae plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Josephine's Candlestick Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Josephine's Candlestick?
Josephine's Candlestick is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Josephine's Candlestick Need?
Josephine's Candlestick grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Josephine's Candlestick is native to South Africa. In cooler regions, grow Josephine's Candlestick as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Josephine's Candlestick is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Brunsvigia genus — compare its care with other Brunsvigia species on PlantoScan.
Brunsvigia is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
Josephine's Candlestick thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Brunsvigia josephinae [Ker-Gawl.], family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Bot. Reg. 3: t. 192, 193 (1817)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Josephine's Candlestick is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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