Emaryllis.com, still your online Hippeastrum (amaryllis) headquarters!
That’s the amaryllis I bought? So you bought an amaryllis and it bloomed…that’s terrific! But wait, it doesn’t look like the picture on the label or catalog, or box kit, or….you get it, welcome to our world. Every season a substantial portion of amaryllis bulbs marketed are incorrectly labeled. This might not be such a big deal were it not for the fact that these are relatively expensive bulbs, which rightly raises the expectations for quality and labeling correctness.
The intent of this site is to photograph those Hippeastrum hybrids commercially available in the U.S. marketplace…maybe you can put a name on that mystery bulb that bloomed.
A note to longtime visitors, and newcomers as well:
If you have found this page, you know that things have changed. Unfortunately my previous web-host chose to discontinue the platform upon which my site editing depended. This resulted in the site essentially being ‘bricked’ starting December 10, 2012. I was informed that there was no way to simply transfer the site whole, and that regardless, all links to the site would be broken when and if the site was re-created. This led to a period of soul searching. Rebuilding from scratch is a monumental undertaking. Not being very tech savvy hasn’t helped matters! Talks with my new hosting company led to the suggestion to try to building on a WordPress framework, which is what you see now. I have a lot of learning to do, and doubtless there will be many errors made along the way. Next year will mark the 10th year of the inception of the site and purchasing of the (admittedly silly/cheeky) emaryllis.com domain name. I fully appreciate the number of visitors from The States that the site gets, but it is truly humbling to see the traffic that comes from countries the world over. Deleting the site just didn’t feel right, so here goes…again!
Thanks for finding your way (back) here 
Bill aka Emaryllis
April 2013, a correction in the library:
Hippeastrum ‘Rio Grande’
Above is a photo of what had been posted erroneously as ‘Flamengo‘ here for some time. I hope this did not seriously harm anyone’s life, if so, my apologies. While photographing a specimen of ‘Tiramisu’ this month, I was reminded of my troubling discovery that it had been confusingly mixed with various trade photos of ‘Flamengo.’ I would have sworn the above had to be the “real” ‘Flamengo.’ Something kept gnawing at me. I searched again through my own photos, notes, and then the various Dutch registry and image sites.
What I had received as ‘Inca’ a few years back turns out to be neither of the aforementioned, thoroughly confused entities. As it would seem, there was a third, unconsidered possibility. This guy has similar coloration by the book to those two (they all sound the same in reading text descriptions), but the form is more distinctly butterfly-like. I am 99% sure what I actually lucked into is ‘Rio Grande,’ another of Fred Meyer’s crosses. Buying ‘Inca’ (which was never, ever provided) knowing it would be substituted, netted a surprise favorite. Perhaps someday, a grower will put some old bulbs of ‘Flamengo’ into the system, but today we welcome a new name (OK, a corrected name) to the library !
Below are highlights, new library entries, the latest and greatest switches and substitutes from the 2012/2013 season:
Penning’s newly registered ‘Mini Blossom,’ a well balanced miniature has entered the gallery. Bulb from Royal Colors.
The largest flowered of the three ‘Minis’ is ‘Mini Star’ which becomes the modern replacement for ‘Moviestar.’ From Royal Colors.
‘Mini Queen’ wasn’t exactly up to the expectations on first year bulbs, but the newly registered hybrid rounds out the Penning threesome offered by Royal Colors this season in a nice soft rose-orange shade.
Penning has debuted some noteworthy new doubles this season. ‘Nyora’ is among the finest double forms seen to date, with very rounded form and excellent presentation. While sibling ‘Benito’ is now in the library as well, conclusions on that one will have to wait. Bulb source: Royal Colors.
Not quite ready for prime time (in other words the photo library), but hopefully the third scape will yield better results. Fiësta became available through White Flower Farm (at a princely sum). While I initially thought it was going to be synonymous with ‘Daphne,’ it is unique. Too bad bulb performance has been below par, it looks like a potential winner.
Looking more like and update to ‘Floris Hekker’ than a challenger to the throne of ‘Red Lion,’ Penning’s ‘Red Rival’ is added to the photo library. Source: White Flower Farm.
Well, sometimes it just doesn’t pay to dip back into the well. A second bulb purchased as ‘Naughty Lady’ this time turns out to be ‘Lillystar,’ rather than the interesting ‘Belicia’ seen from the same supplier. It seems the Dutch wholesalers will lump a lot of smaller flowered red and white (orange and white will do) cultivars into a shipment under the ‘Naughty Lady’ moniker. See the library entry on ‘Voodoo’ for more on that subject. Supplier: Amaryllis Bulb Company.
The minis are coming! Three new miniatures are on offer this year. ‘Mini Blossom’ (left) and ‘Mini Star’ seen here with a flower of ‘Stargazer’ for scale. The orange ‘Mini Star’ is registered by Penning, so I imagine the others will be from the same breeder. ‘Mini Queen’ (not shown) has been the most reluctant of the lot, but library entries for all three of these will be made this season. Source: Royal Colors.
A nice surprise, I didn’t expect much from ‘Louise.’ A mid-sized flower of silky texture and light yellow coloration. What makes it stand out from some others in its color class is its ability to hold the yellow base color, all the way to the point of withering. Most others have long turned so pale they are white with green overtones by that point. Source: Royal Colors.
As promised: the third of three bulbs bought as ‘Exotic Peacock.’ Below we see that one was the correct cultivar, and another was single flowered ‘Monaco,’ and here we have ‘Blossom Peacock.’ I would say one for three indicates a pretty deplorable state of the amaryllis union! Source: K. van Bourgondien Wholesale.
Now, here’s one for the books. Buying ‘Naughty Lady’ has long been a risky venture. So, with the cameras rolling, and a scathing piece of Emaryllis-style ‘Gotcha! journalism’ in mind…here is what opened. This would be ‘Belicia,’ an obscure 2001 introduction that has never been marketed in North America, and as such, a real score! Once in a while, a gamble pays off. Source: Amaryllis Bulb Company.
File under O…M…G. After a disappearance of several years, the true ‘Green Goddess’ (first known as ‘Bianca’) is back!!! Usually I buy this one to see just how far from that cultivar the suppliers are willing to go in substitution. This season, they do the right thing, and an heirloom variety is once again on the market. Source: Amaryllis Bulb Company.
Please welcome ‘Caprice’ to the house! Registered by N.L. van Geest in 2006. The big backswept flowers are cooler in coloration, but could challenge the venerable ‘Apple Blossom’ in the big pastels category. Purchased from Royal Colors.
‘Spartacus’ (left) and ‘Superstar’ are the latest red-white bicolors to enter the library. The especially punchy color and patterning of ‘Spartacus’ (sold as ‘Starsong’ by WFF) is easing some of the sting of not being able to source ‘Pizzazz.’ ‘Superstar’ channels a cleaner, crepe textured update to the likes of ‘Clown’ and ‘Popov.’ Both bulbs sourced from Royal Colors.
At last! After 2 ‘Exotic Peacock’ bulbs from another supplier last season turned out to be ‘Blossom Peacock,’ this year at least one of three from K. van Bourgondien has opened true to form. You can bet the third bulb’s flower will be posted, regardless of what it turns out to be!
Adding to the levels of frustration this season, the bold ‘Monaco’ opened instead of what had been purchased as one of three bulbs of the double flowered ‘Exotic Peacock.’ This is so far off the mark, that I am truly confused. ‘Monaco’ wasn’t offered by K. van Bourgondien, so how did they end up selling it to me? One such bulb of the three is opening, and is correctly labeled…the third has yet to identify itself!
‘Emanuelle’ is offered in Europe this season, and worldwide by Royal Colors. While the softly netted coral-over-cream flowers are more muted, they beg comparison to the more dramatic cultivars ‘Exotica,’ and ‘Apricot Parfait.’ No registration information has yet been found. Delicate for sure; an ‘Apple Blossom’ for those desiring warmer tones.
‘Violetta’ is a new offering this season, and it is not just another Dutch style pink. As with last year’s red red ‘Magnum,’ and true orangie orange ‘Souvenir,’ it is stunningly large. Not only that, it produces more than 4 flowers per scape. A bold new variety that insists that the big, flat Dutch forms are proudly here to stay. Source: Royal Colors.
Thus far, Emaryllis has never seen ‘Pink Nymph’ in person. This is the second season that ‘Sweet Nymph’ (which is probably nicer anyway) has been used in its place, it was the red ‘Cherry Nymph’ the season before that. This year the supplier is McClure & Zimmerman. Obviously there is a production problem with ‘Pink Nymph’ in The Netherlands. So why keep offering it?
As was the case last season, ‘Rapido’ is the red mini sold in place of the rosy ‘Donau’ which seems to be more available in Europe…but I keep trying! All three bulbs from Wooden Shoe Bulb Farm were ‘Rapido,’ so it is not an accidental switch, but shady marketing on someone’s part 
What the…? Pictured are two of three bulbs purchased as ‘Milady.’ The opening magenta pink flower on the left is the correct Hadeco cultivar, but the other two bulbs opened to the warm rose tints of ‘Summertime.’ Since both are grown in South Africa, and the U.S. supplier doesn’t even offer ‘Summertime,’ it seems the problem occurred at the grower’s facilities. Bulb source: KvB Wholesale.
Confession: I fully expected ‘Pizzazz’ to be substituted. Still, the fact that its name and fetching image are still used to entice unwary buyers bears calling out. While Hadeco could ship other striped cultivars, this time it is ‘Cocktail’ doing double duty. On the upside, the bulbs themselves were very healthy and performed better than I have experienced with ‘Cocktail’ in the past. Source: KvB
Wholesale.
Lest you think that Emaryllis is picking on KvB Wholesale (they have new owners, so let’s let them settle in), this Hadeco double white cultivar was supplied correct to name! The variety is new to Emaryllis.com, and features frilly flowers held proudly outward.
Uh, oh dear readers. Our first flowering of the season and we have ourselves an unrequested substitute. Purchased as ‘Baby Star’ (3 bulbs mind you!), our familiar frenemy ‘Lillystar’ is what showed up in its place. It is orange, with pointed petals, with no center markings, unlike the red ‘Baby Star.’ This clone may become the de-facto ‘Baby Star’ over time, even some stock photos now feature an image of the unregistered ‘Lillystar’ for advertising/promotion. Source; K. van Bourgondien Wholesale.
Info for individual varieties is lopped off at bottom of page.
Thanks, love this website!
I’ve just noticed the time given on my posting of a few minutes ago. Wherever you are (?) you’re apparently 7 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Savings Time here in the US…or is your computer clock off-kilter? I’d appreciate knowing where you are physically located…thanks again.
Sharp you are Christopher! I am in the Washington, DC area, where it is currently sunny and crisp. I hope it is a great day on Oregon!
Hello and thanks for such gorgeous photos…I also appreciate your erudite and candid descriptions and comments about accuracy of description and labelling. Would you believe I’ve always believed what the seller or package stated…now I’ll be more critical.
I don’t know if others are having the same problem with legibility of the text on the black background. I find it VERY difficult, even when I stick my nose onto the computer screen…and I normally have great eyesight! The black background for the photos is fantastic…but then the text…..
This is my first foray into your website…I was hoping you were also a seller of bulbs…but from your evaluations and comments, I can pick my own catalog companies from which to shop…we don’t have any Hippeastrum growers here in Western Oregon (not enough sunshine for them).
Well there you go, two against the black background lol! I do prefer the black for showing the photos…but legibility wins! Here goes….
Page exceedingly hard to read on phone. Background swallows up text. Plz change. Thanks.
you have the best site for IDing my plants. I love the out of box pages.
can you tell me what this supposedly red cultivar is? Filament is light pink & pollen sac coverings are purple. Bought it from Lowe’s as a kit.
I poke hokes in my plastic pots with a hot soldering iron. Make sure not to breathe the vapors.
Hi Laurie, by “swallowed up” do you mean the contrast between the background and text? Hope the new color choice works better for you…and everyone else! Thanks for using the site.
I love the new background, text is so easy to read.
Now have to figure out how to send u my NoID pix.
Hi Laurie, glad you are liking the change. Now if I can figure out how to get photo captions in the gallery from getting truncated on smaller devices…one thing at a time!
For now you can send images to emaryllis@yahoo(dot)com if you want me to attempt ID.
-Bill
Hubby reminds me the bulb came from Walmart. Will email pix.
Hi Bill,
I really appreciate all your efforts to track and photograph the various hippeastrum species and hybrids. I sometimes browse your website just for enjoyment (and thinking of what bulbs I should buy
). I wonder if you could help me identify this orange-red amaryllis that I bought without being individually labeled from Van Engelen. It was supposed to be one of the following: Red Peacock, Floris Hekker, or Rosalie. I don’t think it is any of the above. It has frilly petaloids and a crepe texture with a slight fragrance. Can it be an Orange Sovereign? Here is the link to the picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/93441470@N00/8625834183/in/photostream/lightbox/
Thanks so much!
Great to hear that you use and enjoy the site! The link to your flickr page shows what I am pretty certain is either ‘Ferrari,’ or Hadeco’s ‘Merry Christmas.’ Take a look at my photos and others on the web for comparison. Look at the offerings of your supplier to see if they offer one of these varieties.
I, too, am frustrated by the marketing tactics of so many of the bulb companies. Apparently, there are no standards for most of them regarding amaryllis, or, they do not police their sources for quality and labeling.
These folks should be exposed and brought to task.
Yes, Greg they should be held to a higher standard. Mistakes are one thing, but the industry suffers from those who knowingly mis-label. It happens with many bulbs, not just amaryllis..they just don’t usually cost as much on a per-bulb basis.
I was enjoying Your site and I am happy You are back! I started loving and collecting Amaryllis a year ago, but couldn’t find many, here in Tenerife (despite they are grown everywhere in the gardens). I ordered some fifty (single, double, cybister…any kind ) and I am now enjoying their flowerings. I had them from : De Bloembbol , Eurobulb, and N.L.van Geest. Big or small bulbs, but nearly all flowered. I am now seeing some plants are making fruits. Are the seeds worth sowing? Is there a genetic map of the main traits (i.e. which color is dominant, is double recessive, what about breeding different species etc.). Thanks for Your work,
roberto from Tejina de Isora, Tenerife.
Roberto, thanks for writing. It is very cool to have a visitor from the Canary Islands! It sounds like most of the cultivated Hippeastrum there are passed along by gardeners sharing favorite hardy garden types. With 50 new purchases, you have quite a good collection. If seeds are forming, but you haven’t made the crosses yourself, you may not be thrilled by some of the seedlings. Red and striped forms often dominate the Dutch hybrids F2 seedlings. Most of those are tetraploids, and readily set seed. Doubles will pass the double trait to a good percentage (usually at least 25%) of their progeny. Crossing two doubles will give much higher percentages.
If you control crosses using the cybister types with other diploid hybrids or species, you might get some very interesting results. In your climate of bright sunshine, try the trumpet types, especially white to yellow forms, most have species in their background that are from brighter and drier habitats. The pink trumpet types usually contain some H. doraniae, which is from wetter climes. Hybrids with complex genetic backgrounds offer a great range of tolerance in cultivation, a beautiful bonus!
Take a few seeds from each of your pods, and see what you get…if you have room to grow them outdoors, you are luckier than many of us. I hope to hear of your success with them.
-Bill
Hi Cheryl. Yes, you now know why I started tracking names and photographing my collection! Since the retailers are in large part at the mercy of their wholesale suppliers, and they in turn to their growers, brokers and such, it is hard to fault them in many instances. However, I have started “naming names” on the front page when I get a variety that is different than what I paid for. Since I am non-commercial and take no advertising, I can do this without bias.
I would say that in the US I have had pretty good luck with John Scheepers getting correctly identified bulbs to me (and they are a great value on price/size), and the international shipper Royal Colors is only rarely off the mark. White Flower Farm is very expensive, but reliable on most items…though they will offer very new cultivars prior to registration, sometimes under erroneous names (but at least they are as pictured). No firm has a 100% rating. I find that buying at local nurseries is no better than mail-order companies, and gift box kits are notoriously off the mark. Caveat emptor!
I just found your website and have enjoyed amaryllis for over 50 years when my father planted them all around our home in California. I have appreciated the many new cultivars in the past 20 or so years; but apparently like you, I am very much frustrated with what I have received. I have fallen back on my husbands words of: “You get what you pay for”.
I would greatly appreciate your listing the companies that send bulbs that reliably bloom true to the picture.
I thought I was wrong about the amaryillis sent to me not being what the label stated. I supposedly have “red peacock” and the two bulbs are orange. One is tall with solid orange beautiful blooms and the other is orange and white on short stems( atleast 3inches shorter than the other one. Your pictures and comments have made it possible for me to present these flowers and sound like I know what I”m doing.
Thank you, thanky!
So glad the site helped you Doris!
We have seen your beautiful pictures.
Can we share this pictures on our facebook fan page? Of course we will mention your website.
Daphne, no problem with sharing the photos so long as your credit emaryllis.com. Thanks for asking before posting!
I was wondering if you would be willing to try and identify what my amaryllis is? It was labeled as Red Lion, but definitely is not. It’s very pretty, I just like knowing what I have. After finding your site and looking at your box experiment, it’s pretty likely I’m going to start buying bulbs just to see what kind of surprises I get. It’s dreary here in Pennsylvania, I’m very happy to have my amaryllis to brighten the days…I have another box plant that I planted a week ago..I’m excited to see what pops up.
If you’re willing to take a guess on my flower, please email me…I’ve already gone through your pictures here and the closest match is Nagano, but I still don’t think that is correct.
Hi Bill:
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been following your website for several years now and was quite surprised a few weeks ago, when I couldn’t get in.
You’ve been doing a fantastic job! Love the value your site has provided, and appreciate the candidness of your writing style.
Glad you’ve chosen to continue after hitting such a large technological pothole!
Kelvin, thanks so much for your kind words!
When clicking on the individual photo images to get more info, the botttom of text is cut off. I waited for page to center itself to no avail so this is another “pothole” for you.
Btw, love the info, identified some of my bulbs already.
Hi Tim, Unfortunately I am aware of the problem. I still haven’t figured out if it is a problem with my “responsive” theme resizing for smaller screens, or the Next Gen gallery plug-in. Naturally, it doesn’t exhibit this on my home computer…but just about any other device. I will attempt a fix someday…thanks for using the site despite the issues!
molto accurato ed esustivo – grazie
Grazie mille!