Amarillis

Well that the amarillis done for another year, just give them a feed now and then and keep watering until August then watch tem die down..Er...what's this doing here today then?

 

Lovely Rich, but I think you will find it is a Hippeastrum. I used to hate them, but now converted, I even love the big strappy leaves after the flower.

the true Amarillis is A. Belladonna, and it is supposed to be hardy........I have two and tempted to risk one out side (flowers late August) I will continue to reflect on that idea - anyone else tried it?

 

I bought a bulb which is at present showing no signs of life whatsoever....... :(
I too was tempted by the idea of it being hardy.

 

Both members of the Amaryllidaceae family. Hippeastrum's have also been known as amaryllis for as long as I can remember.

There can always be a problem using common names.

 

I grow them (Hipeastrum) sort of outside, I keep them in a frost free greenhouse, dry overwinter and start to water as the weather warms up.
Mine are in bud stood outside now and should flower over the next two to three weeks.
I did grow one outside all year at the base of the house wall, but I dug it up one year by mistake and never planted another to replace it.

 

Liz don't worry too much about it just yet, but don't be tempted to over water it at this stage.

 

Waco wrote:

They are generally pretty hardy (true Amaryllis that is) in most regions. Full sun, really good drainage combined with a moderately rich soil keeps them happy. The leaves die away in summer followed by flowering in late August/early September. Like Nerines, they seem to perform best if left undisturbed. It grew very well with me in the Midlands and I've friends in Yorks. and Lancs. who have very fine clumps planted at the base of south facing walls. I suspect it would do as well for you if planted in the right spot.

Pete wrote about Hippeastrum:

I started growing them outside when I realised that they were popular for garden planting in the US at least as far north as New York. I look upon them as garden plants now and here they flower late - usually in June/July. They remain vitually evergreen and apart from needing full sun and a strong attraction for snails seem pretty trouble free. This was given to me as a seedling some years ago and flowers most years



Another eventually became shaded-out and stopped flowering. It was recently split up and shifted to a sunnier spot. I hope for more of this from next year onwards:



I have a small clump of Hippeastrum 'Toughie', which has purplish leaves when grown in full sun. Its flowers are medium sized and rich crimson, but I don't have a pic of it at the moment. It must be the hardiest of them all and is well worth trying in gardens from the Midlands southwards.

 

I have an area in full sun which I could try for my Amaryllis. Do you protect them from frosts at all in winter? I'm worried about the two really cold spells here last winter. I have 2 nerines whivh survived last winter outside in a pot.

Waco, thanks for that advice, I've been tempted to water it each time I see it's not growing!

 

OK Dave I am am going to dig one Belladonna in next to my nerines which are on south facing stone wall behind low box hedge. the other I will keep in for insurance policy.

Red Lion

 

This is an ancient bulb that was repotted at the end of season last year. After taking off 2 side setts it's been very slow to flower this year but has finally made it. The two daughter bulbs have nice if rather small leaves but are begining to fatten up. Anyone know how long before they are likely to bloom ?

Photo was taken in poor light as it was tipping down but the red colour is gorgeous! I think it's Hippeastrum 'Red Lion'



[ 03. July 2006, 01:15 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

My "Red Lion" does not look quite as dark as that or as velvity, but I do have one called "Roma" that is huge and also just about to flower - will post to compare colour.

 

Well, they don't need protecting here (either Hippeastrums or Amaryllis), but I suspect Hippeastrums would need protecting inland, if only with a decent mulch. I've seen Amaryllis belladonna grow perfectly well up in N. Yorkshire in south facing borders, so a similar situation would be fine in your garden.

 

oh for goodeness sake !!!!
My picture above yours is "red lion"

 

:D Hadn't read the name!!!

RHS A-Z shows 'Red Lion' similar to mine (given the light) but Dave's Garden shows a lot of variations.

I don't know if soil type affects colour, My memory from last year before re-potting is that it was a lighter red and not as velvety.

However Bizworld H. 'Roma' does look a much darker red so unless anyone knows different 'Roma' it is!

 

well now my Roma is opening up and looks quite orange! However I have this theory, the one I saw at Rogers looked like your but was in sheltered hot house, mine is in full sone and as you know it really is FULL ON SUN! I think it has been bleached anyway will photo when completely open.