Enchanting Amaryllis

A beautiful amaryllis given to me by a friend cheers my windowsill
​on a snowy day.

Enchanting Amaryllis
By guest author Avery Bartlett-Golden

In stores, homes and catalogs during December holidays, red and white Amaryllises are perhaps as evocative of the season as Poinsettias. Generally grown in the Netherlands and shipped over in time for the holidays, this voluminous flower has fascinated growers for centuries. The first bulbs flowering like today’s amaryllises were brought over in the early eighteenth century from the southwest cape of South Africa. These bulbs were the true amaryllis, Amaryllis belladonna. Since then new flowers from the Caribbean and South America were discovered. These were also called amaryllises and are related to what grace our homes today. They belong to the family Amarilidaceae, but are actually members of the genus Hippeastrum, hybridized with a wide variety of other related bulbs.

​The symbolism of this flower is interesting. As the FloriSmart website explains, “The name Hippeastrum is a combination of two Greek words: Hippeus (knight) and Astron (star). Knight star refers to the star shaped petals which look like the medieval weapon. The flower symbolizes quite a few things: pride, enchanting beauty, friendship and affection. This makes the Amaryllis a perfect flower to give to a loved one.”

​After flowering, new bulbs can be planted in a tall narrow pot about twice as wide as the bulb.  Hippeastrums like well-drained soil and prefer to be planted with the neck of the bulb above the soil. Once frost danger has passed, they can be brought outside to a location protected from direct sun for the duration of the summer. This helps the bulb build reserves to enlarge and to produce flowers. Since Hippeastrums are from the tropics they are not winter hardy.

White crinum lilies blooming in June in our garden.

To extend the wonderful inflorescences, or flowering, of amaryllises outdoors, Crinum lilies can be used. Relatives of Hippeastrum, but with a number of species native to the southeastern United States, Crinum lilies are known for their durability and longevity. Another interesting bulb is the Xamarcrinum. Amarcrinums are intergeneric crosses between crinums and the true amaryllis. For a flower identical to the Christmas flower, Hippeastrum x johnsonii is a good intergeneric cross hardy to zone 7a. 

With such variety, spanning arid climates to the southeastern United States and the tropics, the Amarilidaceae family provides nearly endless variety. Thus, perhaps the beautiful Christmas lily can not only bring beauty but serve as an introduction to a vast family of incredible flowers for nearly any climate.

For information on caring for your amaryllis visit:
https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/flowers/growing-and-caring-for-amaryllis/

Avery Bartlett-Golden is a Horticulture Science major at North Carolina State University.