[3] It has been reported from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé, Zaire, Uganda, and Angola.

The flowers are borne on a scape (leafless stem) which emerges from the centre of the leaves and is usually not much taller than them, with a height of 15–40 cm (6–16 in).

The individual pedicels (flower stalks) are 15–45 mm (0.6–1.8 in) long, and bend downwards when the fruit (a berry) is formed, whereas in most other species of Scadoxus they are upright at this stage.

This variation has resulted in a substantial number of names for what appears to be a single widespread and variable species.

[1][6] The specific epithet cinnabarinus refers to the colour of the flowers, which Decaisne described as "rouge cinabre vif" (bright cinnabar red).

[9] Scadoxus cinnabarinus is widely distributed around the Congo Basin from Sierra Leone in the north to Angola in the south.

It is found in tropical rainforest, in humid shady habitats subject to high rainfall, where the soils are largely organic.

Like other species of Scadoxus from tropical rainforests, it requires an open organic soil to ensure good drainage and aeration around the roots, together with shade from strong sun.