Species of Scadoxus are grown as ornamental plants for their brilliantly coloured flowers, either in containers or in the ground in frost-free climates.

Particularly in the non-bulbous species, the petioles (leaf stalks) overlap to produce a false stem or pseudostem, which may be purple-spotted.

Doxus, meaning "glory" or "splendour" in Greek, is usually interpreted as a reference to the often scarlet flowers of the genus.

The tribe is predominantly African in origin and comprises six genera: Apodolirion, Gethyllis, Haemanthus, Scadoxus, Clivia and Cryptostephanus.

Nordal and Duncan explored the relationship between eight of the species in a 1984 analysis based on morphological features (the little-known Scadoxus longiflorus was excluded).

[14] By contrast, Scadoxus cyrtanthiflorus is found only in the Rwenzori Mountains on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[5] Most species are found in tropical forests, where they grow in warm, moist conditions in shade, either in soil or as epiphytes.

[5] The cultivation of Scadoxus species has been described by Jonathan Hutchinson, the UK National Plant Collection holder for the genus.

All species occur naturally in areas of summer rainfall, and in cultivation tend to start in growth in spring after a period of winter dormancy.

The three species found in South Africa, S. multiflorus, S. puniceus and S. membranaceous, are the most widely cultivated, being tolerant of winter temperatures down to 5 °C (41 °F).

[5] Pests of Scadoxus in cultivation in the UK include mealy bugs and narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris).

[5] In South Africa, where species such as S. puniceus can be grown outside, lily borer (Brithys crini) attacks plants.