When the bloom dies down, green, straplike foliage emerges. The foliage persists through winter and spring and goes dormant in early summer. Allen says the roots of the long-necked, black bulbs pull themselves down into the soil, and it is this growth habit that allows clumps to develop in the cooler layers of the earth. Oxblood lilies can be grown in various soil types, and the history of the heirloom bulbs is testimony to this fact as they are discovered at abandoned homesteads where they have survived, and multiplied, with no care. Given a good soil, adequate moisture and minimum effort on a gardener's part, oxblood lilies make a beautiful showing in the garden, Allen says.
Young bulblets form around the older bulbs, spiraling around the mother bulbs.
Oxblood lilies can be used to border walkways or massed in flower beds. I am hoping you can identify a vine that is growing against a brick wall in a shopping center, surviving with little water in the punishing heat. I want to plant it in anticipation of water shortages. This vine is not as rampant, but it can be vigorous. It produces beautiful dark reddish-purple blooms in summer.