John&Jacq~s Garden

Posted by Jacqueline on June 25th, 2008 in Plants database

Hippeastrum (Amaryllis, Hippeastrums, Hippies, Barbados Lily)

A must-have perennial bulb to splash colors to your garden!

We just love this fascinating Amaryllis! Its tallest ever flower stalk (scape) towers at 91 cm (3 ft) to showcase flowers attractively colored salmon-orange! Every Easter for three consecutive years, this potted bulbous perennial has not failed to cheer and brighten us with one erect scape, crowned with a cluster of 4 gorgeous blooms. Hence, we’ve nicknamed it ‘Easter Lily’ as it seems to resurrect around Easter season.

And, the best part is the flowering momentum is accelerating! Not only the blooming times per year has increased (thrice in 2007 and twice so far within the 1st half of 2008), but the number of flower scapes per season increased too! This June, for the first time ever, we’re seeing 5 scapes altogether, as captured in the left topmost image (4 stalks visible as a prior withered one had been removed before shooting)! How marvelous - with several scapes, we got to enjoy the blooms over a period of almost a month!

Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation :

• Botanical Name: Hippeastrum
• Common Name: Amaryllis (should not be mistaken for Amaryllis belladonna, an African genus in the same family), Hippeastrums, Hippies, Barbados Lily.
• Family name: Amaryllidaceae
• Plant type: Bulbous perennial flowering plant that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, spreading from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean.
• Light: Grows best in filtered sunlight outdoors. If grown indoors, provide it with bright indirect light.
• Moisture: Requires medium water regularly during the growing season, but water sparingly during its resting period unless during very hot seasons.
• Soil: Well-drained and moderately fertile soil.
• Propagation: Propagation by germination of seeds (how-to at Wikipedia) or division of offsets or small bulbs. Plant a single offset in a 6-inch pot with good potting soil, exposing the top third of its bulb above soil surface. Locate at a sunny area and water thoroughly through once and then sparingly until new growth is seen. When new leaves emerge, water adequately so that soil is damp but not overly wet that could cause bulb and roots to rot.
• Features: Hippeastrum is a genus of more than 75 species of evergreen or deciduous perennial bulbs that consist of more than 600 hybrids and cultivars, resulting in a multitude of shapes, colors, patterns and sizes. Though a very variable genus, Hippeastrums are broadly similar in appearance.

  All Hippeastrum bulbs (ranging from 5-12 cm or 2-5 inches across) produce strap-like basal leaves that are 25-60 cm (10-30 inches) long and 2.5-5 cm (1-2 inches) broad. Even when not in bloom, their fabulous deep green foliage that are long-lasting, add beauty and elegance to the plants. Some varieties even have variegated leaves, such as Hippeastrum ‘Mrs Garfield’, with a distinct white midrib.

  Generally, at any one time each Amaryllis bulb will produce one or sometimes two (maybe even three though less likely) leafless flower stalks (scapes) that are hollow yet erect, ranging from 40-91 cm (16-36 inches) in height. Each stalk, towering above the lovely foliage, bears 2-7 six-petaled lily-like or funnel-shaped flowers, up to 25 cm (10 inches) across, lasting about a week or more. Their strikingly beautiful flowers are bold and brilliant, in dazzling colors of white, pink, rose, red to crimson, yellow, green and orange, sometimes with contrasting stripes, throats or edges. Amaryllis now come in scores of sizes, colors, patterns and textures due to such extensive hybridizing that originated from Holland and South Africa since the 18th century and now being hybridized worldwide. The bulbs can produce awesome flowers in singles, doubles, miniatures, cybisters or trumpets, though only the first three named are typically sold in nurseries and stores.

  In the tropics, Hippeastrums are evergreen, do not undergo a rest period and bloom all year round in suitable environment. In temperate countries though, most are deciduous and undergo a period of dormancy for a few months, then spring to life and bloom in spring or summer outdoors, and in the winter or spring indoors.

• Usage: Hippeastrums are popularly grown for their spectacular display of fabulous flowers in garden borders, beds and parks, or raised planters along sidewalks and road dividers. Most ideal too in mixed perennial borders, among shrubs or under the shade of large trees. They’ll make excellent container plants for porch or patio due to their compact upright shape and fabulous foliage that are attractive even when not flowering. Try planting them en masse in your garden to attract bees, butterflies and birds.
• Care: Hippeastrums are easily grown, needing little maintenance. Locate them at sunny and warm sites for best growth and flowering. Well-drained sandy soil, enriched with organic content is essential to prevent rotting of bulbs and roots. Keep soil moist, never overwater and feed it fortnightly or so with a liquid fertilizer during the growing season. Reduce watering when growth slows down. Hippeastrums excel and flower more when they are pot bound with a restricted root system, hence rarely need repotting. Also, the top half or third of the bulbs should be exposed above ground, not buried. Once the blooms wither, cut off spent flowers/stems to encourage growth of more leaves, leading to food production/storage in the bulbs for next season’s flowering. Remove yellow and dead leaves. Be aware that Hippeastrum sap can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves if necessary during pruning. Snails and slugs are attracted to them, otherwise least bothered by pests and diseases.
  Learn much more from The US National Arboretum on how to make your Amaryllis bloom again, especially for temperate gardeners.
• For temperate zones: Hardiness - USDA Zone 8a to 11. More information at Floridata.

Hippeastrum photo gallery: Visit International Bulb Society and Pacific Bulb Society and be astounded with the many awesome species, hybrids and cultivars presented. Enjoy!
I was definitely enraptured and my favorite exotic Hippeastrum species seen at IBS were the following, though the hybrids were as exquisite but too many to name here :

• H. aulicum
• H. cybister
• H. escobaruriae
• H. iguazanum
• H. leopoldii
• H. mandonii
• H. nelsonii
• H. papilio
• H. psittacinum
• H. teyucuarense

Continuing with more images of Hippeastrum hybrids taken from our garden and elsewhere.

Hippeastrum hybrid (maybe hybrid of H. petiolatum or striatum?), with salmon-orange flowers

Hippeastrum hybrid (maybe hybrid of H. petiolatum or striatum?), with salmon-orange flowers

Hippeastrum ‘Baby Star’, red flower with central white star

Hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium ‘Mrs. Garfield’ - flower with central white stripe and irregular pink veins, leaves dark green with white midrib

Hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium ‘Mrs. Garfield’ - flower with central white stripe and irregular pink veins, leaves dark green with white midrib

Last edited: August 28, 2008