Flower bud initiation and development of Cyrtanthus elatus was studied over a 12 month period. This was done to define the stages of inflorescence development in order to obtain information to determine the optimum period for flower forcing. The bulbs showed a repeated sympodial branching system resulting in 2 to 4 inflorescences being present during each growing period, each inflorescence bearing 5 to 9 florets. Primary and secondary inflorescences were initiated from April to October. Floral parts of the tertiary inflorescences differentiated almost throughout the year. The development of a fourth inflorescence was observed during October to January, as well as during April to June. The primary inflorescence reached anthesis between August and December (spring to summer), sometimes followed by the flowering of the second inflorescence. A smaller bloom of the primary inflorescence was also observed in April (beginning of fall).