Amaryllis Plant Information ( Hippeastrum )

Amaryllis Plant Information ( Hippeastrum )

Botanical Name: Hippeastrum

Native Country: Western Cape of Southern Africa

The Amaryllis plant is the sole member of the subtribe Amaryllidinae, which hosts this plant that boasts of flowering bulbs. It is one of the plants that get mistaken with Lily due to the shape of its flowers and growth habit. The plant shares a symbiotic relationship with carpenter bees. Noctuid moths also visit the flowers in the night but botanists have failed to establish them as pollinators. The flowers are funnel-shaped and arranged in a cluster. In each cluster, you can find up to 12 flowers, of 6-10cm in diameter. The Amaryllis flower has three inner petals and three outer sepals. The Amaryllis flowers are pink, purple or white. The sparkling crimson veins on white flowers add to the overall beauty. Some new varieties even have stripes on the petals. The flowers can have several growing phases and with proper care, one Amaryllis plant can bloom flowers year after years.

Tips:

It is also called naked lady, which is due to its flowering phase that happens when the foliage is dead.

The Amaryllis plant doesn’t do well in winters and isn’t frost-tolerant.

The Amaryllis plant is poisonous and hence, it is advised to keep the plant away from kids and pets.

Bright indirect, Southern light source is best for the plant.

Fertilisers should be high on phosphorous and potassium but low in nitrogen. Always use plant food to half the recommended strength.

During the flowering phase, the plant enjoys cooler areas.

‘Amaryllis’ comes from Greek word, ‘amarysso’, which also means, ‘to sparkle.’

You can grow amaryllis bulb in water as floating flowers with stones to help them float across.