Images tagged "amaryllis"
2000, T. van Nieuwkerk. A nice, scarlet amaryllis in a sea of tough competition. Good bud count and scapes that aren’t overly tall are its chief attributes. Surpassed by other reds in Nieuwkerk’s impressive catalog at this point.
PK Amaryllis 2018. 5-6 large, rounded, crepe textured flowers per sturdy scape. Soft white is only lightly to substantially blushed in the lower third, and heavily brushed with shades of muted rose above. A suffusion of coral-rose shades in the background balances the flowers towards warmer tones that are very easy on the eyes. As with many amaryllis hybrids, the amount of overall color saturation is dependent on light intensity and duration during bloom.
N.L. van Geest B.V. 2019. Also offered as ‘White Queen’, but the name changed to ‘White Cream’ in registration. A pure white, large flowered (7”/18 cm across) amaryllis that offers 5-7 blooms per scape. The small, light lime green heart adds to the cool purity of the display as do the white filaments and style. The tepals are not full or rounded, but rather wavy which gives the flowers a graceful yet lively quality at the same time. Very pale pink markings were found on a few flowers opened in very bright light, but did not detract from the simple beauty of this fine selection.
Park Amaryllis V.O.F. 2024. Delicate and unique ‘White Nile’ was registered in the trumpet class, but it really defies categorization. Only about 14 cm across at the face, it is longer measured from the ovary forward. Narrow and undulate white tepals are co-dominated by the green heart which blends lime and chartreuse, making for an icy cool beauty. Floriferousness and longevity of flowers are in question, but not since ‘Muscadet’ and ‘Night Star’ have we seen a Hippeastrum hybrid so delicate and charming!
S. Warmenhoven & Zonen 1941. Emaryllis thinks it is incredible that Dutch collectors have kept some of the oldest amaryllis hybrids from extinction. ‘Purple Queen’ was among of the earliest dark, blood red hybrids. It was bred by one of the early pioneers of modern Hippeastrum breeding. ‘Purple Queen’s genetics have been passed down to the modern ultra dark red cultivars like ‘Royal Velvet’ and ‘Red Pearl’. The dark reds have come in and out of fashion over many decades. While they don’t glow in a dark winter interior, when seen in even minimal lighting they are alluring and breathtaking. With four deep red flowers that age to black-red on aging per scape, this heirloom still holds up surprisingly well to its modern kin.
Hadeco, 2025. An enticing smaller amaryllis with striking coloration and butterfly form. Bright raspberry rose dominates the upper parts of the flowers, with deeply colored netted venation providing punch. A thin picot edge and small star shaped lime throat complete a lively face. Four 12-14 cm flowers per glaucous grey green scape.
Barnhoorn Hippeastrum 2010. A perfect white miniature of the ‘Sonatini’ clan. 4-6 short white trumpets of silken sheen are held outward to show the small yellow-green heart that accentuates the icy coolness of this little rascal. No off color flecks or streaks detected, even when flowered in bright sunlight. Unlike its lovely stablemate ‘Swan Lake', it has no dark eye, and features very smooth-edged, rather than tailored tepals. Both are distinctive, and very highly regarded here. As with others in the series, it is meant for multiple bulbs per pot, or (for those brave enough to risk it) garden use. Presumably more cold hardy than the average amaryllis hybrid.
2013 Fa. G. van Staalduinen & Zn. Sometimes sold as simply ‘Party’ or with the spelling variant ‘Pajama Party'. Lofty scapes average 5-6 flowers of medium size and near trumpet form. Variable amounts of cream white show through the heavy strokes of orange, and ruddy reds, with some raspberry near the center. The buds and flower backsides are beautifully candy-striped. Variable and fun.
N.L. van Geest B.V., 2019. Registered in the “butterfly group” amaryllis which means the tepals are not as narrow as the “spider” or “Cybister” types, but they have a curvy, star-like shape. The lofty scapes (over 80cm on good roots) are shaded with some smoky violet near the base, excellent for cutting. Each crowded scape is like a miniature bouquet, with at least 6 flowers, each to about 7”/18cm across. The bottom third of the flower is dominated by the creamy base color, and this is what gives the flowers their pleasing contrast. A productive and excellent performer!
Fa. G. Staalduinen & Zn. 2009. A medium sized warm pink amaryllis with very variable deep red streaks and wedges. Basically 'Gervase' is a party in every flower, and its inconsistency may not be to everyone's taste. A wonderful and noteworthy characteristic lies in the deep red filaments and style which add a dash of color co-ordinated panache! In the USA at least, sometimes marketed under the name 'Fantasy'. An exciting, if polarizing variety.
Amaryl C.V. 2013. In the realm of the klister/cluster type amaryllis, this one does what it is supposed to do-bloom with abundant foliage present. The incredible number of offsets creates a veritable lawn of rich green foliage. Tall scapes bearing 7-8 flowers each are light (but definite) yellow with a short trumpet form, and clean and silky texture. Three scapes were produced by the one clump purchased, not as many as others in this series. The individual flowers were notably short-lived here, reducing the effectiveness of the display.
Vreugdenhil, 1997. 'Yellow Goddess' is far from perfect, but puts on a good show nonetheless. It tends to send all of its scapes up at once, the individual flowers (3 or 4 per stem) are medium sized (6"/15 cm) across+/- and often malformed to some extent. The color is hard to describe, being not yellow or green or cream, but a pale blend of all of these. Presumably a hybrid with Hippeastrum evansiarum in its background, it too can show salmon flushes under high light intensity. A difficult bulb to keep going in the long haul, and now long out of production.
Dutch origin, 2025. ’Giant Flame’ puts four large (22 cm) crepey flowers that open hooded atop their pale green scapes. Soft coral red dominates, with a large and diffuse white star center. The midribs are whiskered in red, the filaments are white, and the style is dipped in coral rose. Tepaloids are sometimes present. The coloration isn’t overly vivid, and we’d call this amaryllis “Big Easy” since it is indeed large, but also easy on the eyes.
'Gilmar' is among the first amaryllis cultivars from Kebol's Brasbonitas (TM) program to arrive from Brazil to U.S. markets. It is a striking bicolor of somewhat imperfect form, similar to the hard-to-find 'Jaguar'. The crimson and white flowers are about 6"/15cm across, 4 per scape. Dutch firms are setting up in Brazil and Peru to take advantage of the opposite growing season (easier to send to markets in the Northern Hemisphere for winter bloom), lower energy and labor costs.
Registered by Leo Berbee in 2005, bred and introduced by "Dee" Cothran of California in 1979. Truly the first hybrid in the yellow category to enter the marketplace. Pale green-yellow with obvious imperfections, growing from a squatty bulb. Difficult to grow on (supposedly likes it really warm). This is an important heirloom, and Emaryllis hopes it is never lost to cultivation. Many of the newer yellow amaryllis clones owe their existence to this one.
1994, G.C. van Meeuwen & Zonen. 'Giraffe' is a charming smaller hybrid amaryllis with the nice patterning, but low bud count inherited from Hippeastrum papilio. Usually three 5"/12-13cm. flowers per scape. It seems not to be evergreen, but only a short rest is required for re-bloom. Bulbs clump up quickly and that is when they make a great show. Perhaps H. papilio x H. puniceum. Out of production.
Barnhoorn Hippeastrum 2008. The "Rascal"amaryllis series became available worldwide in 2014 with an offering posted on the former Sonatini website. This is one of that series that lives up to, and even surpasses expectations. Floriferous (5-6 flowers per scape) bulbs bear elegant scapes of small (3”/7.5cm) and silky light yellow flowers. What makes them unmistakeable though (and is not detected in promotional photos) is the chestnut brushing on the outer base of each flower that elegantly accentuates the long, lily-like depth of the floral tube. Exquisite in detail, graceful in form and excellent in performance. What is not to like?
Saad-Assaf circa 2014. A large flowered and striking Hippeastrum papilio influenced selection that successfully marries the coloration of that species with the classic open faced form of modern hybrids. The buds are beautifully patterned in green and red, lending an air of drama just before the flowers pop open. The deep burgundy red at the center fans outward and brightens a shade over the pointed, silken picotee edged tepals. The lower third is predominantly white, with a bit of diamond dusted sparkle in angled light. More than four flowers per scape. A very well done amaryllis hybrid that will find many fans.
2019, N.L. van Geest B.V. Like some of the earliest yellow hybrids, 'Yellow Star' tends to put up all of its scapes in quick succession. That is where the similarity ends; gone are the random tepal anomalies and questionable degree of "yellowness". It seems that 4-5 medium-large flowers per sturdy, dark-shaded scape are in order. The flowers are light yellow with a cool, green cast and a diffuse green heart, pointed tepals and a notably “drop tongue” lowermost tepal. A great show, and the best modern yellow amaryllis hybrid approaching full Dutch form to date.
Hadeco. Registered with KAVB in 2007. 'Gold Medal' is a South African bred hybrid with a color that is tough to pin down. Large crepe textured blooms open a warm apricot-orange. Rosy coral tones later dominate the flowers as they age and lose turgor. For this reason, once also offered as 'Salmon Beauty' in the U.S.
A Hadeco introduction. A charming and small-flowered amaryllis with 3-5 blooms per thin scape. It is distinctive, but bears a resemblance in form and coloration to a smaller 'Rembrandt van Rijn'. Cream and green tones with muted red brush-marks and a greenish center, not flat faced.
Fa. G. van Staalduinen, 2011. Silky, deep red flowers invite comparison to ‘Red Pearl,’ among others. Each olive green scape bears 4-5 large (7.5”/19cm) blooms that roll back at the tips, giving the flowers a rounded face. The pedicels and ovaries that hold the flowers are dark burgundy and highly lacquered compared to other ultra dark red amaryllises. ‘Grand Diva’ is distinctive and very nice in its own right.
2008, T. van Nieuwkerk. 'Grand Prix' makes big flowers of deep, garnet red with even deeper colored veins. The flowers have some unique qualities, the first being that they open wider than tall. As the filaments and style emerge from the ovary, and forward of the white "beard pads" they remain white more than 1/4 inch out. Most of the other "big reds" in this color class have dark filaments all the way into the pads, or at most a little lighter greenish shading. Due to the current popularity of the deep red amaryllises, these constant features are more and more important to get a proper ID.
Breeder: Fred Meyer, registered Berbee Beheer 2003. An exciting amaryllis, presumed backcross of a "cybister" type hybrid with something having more typical form. The result: 'Grandeur' has star shaped blooms that are deceptively large (7"/18cm), yet still elegant. Terra cotta red, cream, light green, and brick red all play well together on one exotic flower. Long out of circulation. ‘Happy Valley' seems the closest replacement.
2021, N.L. van Geest. 'Grandise Fantasy' lives up to its name by producing very large and beautifully patterned flowers. Cream white overlaid in fine stripes of red are enlivened by traces of raspberry near the tepal midribs. A punchy green star center and fine picotee edge make this amaryllis a wonderfully detailed floral presentation. Similar in coloration to 'Glee', but more informal in shape. That and the "drop tongue" lower tepal suggest Hippeastrum papilio in the background.
Registered 1960 by Ludwig as ‘Bianca'. Now more commonly sold under the name 'Green Goddess', at least in North America. Charming, with deep (not flat) mid-size white flowers having an icy green throat, of loose form and held well away from each other on wiry pedicels. The lowermost tepal has a ‘drop tongue’ presentation. Widely substituted, and thought to be out of circulation for several years, it was briefly resurrected in 2012.
2015, Fa. Kwekerij Van der Ende Flowers. A mid-size amaryllis with impeccable cutflower credentials. Tall, sturdy, sea green scapes bear 4-5 and sometimes 6 blooms, each about 4.5”/12cm across. The pale green flowers present a star shaped face by way of the spade shaped tepals. Variably penciled with rust red lines towards the center, some being nearly free of markings. Long lasting, slow to open “flat” and artfully poised on their scapes. They collapse slowly, merely nodding as they gracefully fade out. As of 2021 just entering the dry bulb trade in a limited way in Europe, so maybe it will see wider release in the future.
2019, Park Amaryllis VOF. Medium sized flowers of warm paprika red, with deeper red venation float on tall, chalky scapes. While “only” four flowers per umbel are typical, ‘Gypsy Girl’ offers unique shape as its most compelling attribute. Somewhat narrow tepals display a pronounced butterfly shape to set it apart. Another notable feature is the white variegation on the buds and flower backsides, giving the whole presentation a lively flair. On top of this, it is marketed as suitable for outdoor garden use, being more cold hardy than most.
'Half and Half' began being offered in the USA by one California company in 2011. It is one of Saad Assaf's in-house "Mediterranean amaryllis" hybrids. It appears related to 'Opal Star', but with a semi-trumpet form seen in its mid-size flowers. Slightly crimped tepals give it some movement and character. A bit reminiscent of long gone 'Grandeur' as well.
N.L. van Geest, 2021. A very large, “hooded” rather than totally flat bloomer with bold contrast between the dominant deep, rich red, and small and crisp white midrib star. The saturation and depth of the red color is simply breathtaking. Even with experience from only one bulb in its first season, it is impossible to deny that this is a stunning amaryllis that will always turn heads. Bravo!
Hadeco, 2025. A small and demure amaryllis, probably more intensely colored if flowered outdoors in stronger sunlight. 4-5 flowers per thin dark green scape. Soft cream white is blushed in the upper ⅔ with warm coral. The midribs are white and flanked by dark red whiskers that give the face of the flower personality. The tepals twist slightly with age. A hybrid for those seeking something subtle.
2007, Hippeastrum Breeding, B.V. 'Helios' is one of the most intriguing yellow amaryllis hybrids yet released. Short trumpets of a soft, but notably warm yellow make it unique. Most yellows to date have been as much green or cream as true yellow. The backside of the flower, near where it joins the ovary is marked with toffee, emphasizing the warmer qualities still more. I would venture a guess that 'Candy' and 'Marrakech' are siblings of 'Helios'. Easier to grow than ‘Germa', and a reliable re-bloomer. Often sold among other "hardy amaryllis" for outdoor gardening, but it deserves a space on your windowsill!
Jac Mense, 1989. A large, rich pink hybrid in the classic Dutch amaryllis form. 4-6 big, flat flowers with a cherry eye, and green star center leading out to light midribs. 'La Forest Morton' (a large pink with a dark throat) registered way back 1956 by Ludwig has been marketed in North America, but seems to always be this clone instead. A lot of the old Ludwig names ('Fantastica', 'Maria Goretti', and 'Dutch Belle' come to mind) and images are still used to sell modern types that are actually in production. 'Hercules' stands strong on its own merits!
T. van Nieuwkerk, 1995. 'Hermitage' has big, flat flowers meant to compete with the likes of 'Minerva'. The "red and white" flowers are marked heavily with a shade of reddish orange, rather than bright pure red. What is kind of cool about 'Hermitage' is the unique shape of the flower. Built with somewhat stubby tepals, the overall impression is that the flower possesses a somewhat boxy or geometric quality...you will always know if the supplier has switched cultivars on you! Out of production
Hadeco circa 2010. A large flowered, stout-stemmed amaryllis that shouldn't topple forced in lower lighting. Its blend of warm and cool pinks, and myriad tiny dots over a light background suggest a modern successor to the likes of 'Summertime' that was seemingly pulled out of production for virus issues.
Hadeco, circa 2014. Offered as a pre-potted bulb in the U.S. Having thought this was going to be identical to ‘Buttercup’ (which turned out to be ‘Marrakech’ in our case) hopes were not high. Actually, they may still not be even though this does indeed appear to be a distinct cultivar. Very small flowers on very thin scapes. The scapes in this example had some worrying color streaks, so its health may not be up to snuff. It does not fade to white as it ages. Probably out of production already.
Amaryl C.V. 2018. True bright orange, six per apple green scape. Tepals more pointed than rounded, giving a lighter feel than the diameter would suggest. Evokes the long lost ‘Eos’ to a degree. Let's face it, orange (like red) is a color that amaryllis (Hippeastrum) hybrids do very well!
A Hadeco mini with bright cerise and white flowers, a refreshing color for this type. Easy to re-bloom year to year. Deserves wider popularity.
Kwekersvereniging Amaryl C.V. 2008, A huge, loose, and very crepe textured flower. White with greenish tones overlaid with heavy markings of deep garnet red. Dramatic, even by amaryllis standards. Seemingly only offered briefly, this one deserves a comeback!
2000, T. van Nieuwkerk. A nice, scarlet amaryllis in a sea of tough competition. Good bud count and scapes that aren’t overly tall are its chief attributes. Surpassed by other reds in Nieuwkerk’s impressive catalog at this point.
PK Amaryllis 2018. 5-6 large, rounded, crepe textured flowers per sturdy scape. Soft white is only lightly to substantially blushed in the lower third, and heavily brushed with shades of muted rose above. A suffusion of coral-rose shades in the background balances the flowers towards warmer tones that are very easy on the eyes. As with many amaryllis hybrids, the amount of overall color saturation is dependent on light intensity and duration during bloom.
N.L. van Geest B.V. 2019. Also offered as ‘White Queen’, but the name changed to ‘White Cream’ in registration. A pure white, large flowered (7”/18 cm across) amaryllis that offers 5-7 blooms per scape. The small, light lime green heart adds to the cool purity of the display as do the white filaments and style. The tepals are not full or rounded, but rather wavy which gives the flowers a graceful yet lively quality at the same time. Very pale pink markings were found on a few flowers opened in very bright light, but did not detract from the simple beauty of this fine selection.
Park Amaryllis V.O.F. 2024. Delicate and unique ‘White Nile’ was registered in the trumpet class, but it really defies categorization. Only about 14 cm across at the face, it is longer measured from the ovary forward. Narrow and undulate white tepals are co-dominated by the green heart which blends lime and chartreuse, making for an icy cool beauty. Floriferousness and longevity of flowers are in question, but not since ‘Muscadet’ and ‘Night Star’ have we seen a Hippeastrum hybrid so delicate and charming!
S. Warmenhoven & Zonen 1941. Emaryllis thinks it is incredible that Dutch collectors have kept some of the oldest amaryllis hybrids from extinction. ‘Purple Queen’ was among of the earliest dark, blood red hybrids. It was bred by one of the early pioneers of modern Hippeastrum breeding. ‘Purple Queen’s genetics have been passed down to the modern ultra dark red cultivars like ‘Royal Velvet’ and ‘Red Pearl’. The dark reds have come in and out of fashion over many decades. While they don’t glow in a dark winter interior, when seen in even minimal lighting they are alluring and breathtaking. With four deep red flowers that age to black-red on aging per scape, this heirloom still holds up surprisingly well to its modern kin.
Hadeco, 2025. An enticing smaller amaryllis with striking coloration and butterfly form. Bright raspberry rose dominates the upper parts of the flowers, with deeply colored netted venation providing punch. A thin picot edge and small star shaped lime throat complete a lively face. Four 12-14 cm flowers per glaucous grey green scape.
Barnhoorn Hippeastrum 2010. A perfect white miniature of the ‘Sonatini’ clan. 4-6 short white trumpets of silken sheen are held outward to show the small yellow-green heart that accentuates the icy coolness of this little rascal. No off color flecks or streaks detected, even when flowered in bright sunlight. Unlike its lovely stablemate ‘Swan Lake', it has no dark eye, and features very smooth-edged, rather than tailored tepals. Both are distinctive, and very highly regarded here. As with others in the series, it is meant for multiple bulbs per pot, or (for those brave enough to risk it) garden use. Presumably more cold hardy than the average amaryllis hybrid.
2013 Fa. G. van Staalduinen & Zn. Sometimes sold as simply ‘Party’ or with the spelling variant ‘Pajama Party'. Lofty scapes average 5-6 flowers of medium size and near trumpet form. Variable amounts of cream white show through the heavy strokes of orange, and ruddy reds, with some raspberry near the center. The buds and flower backsides are beautifully candy-striped. Variable and fun.
N.L. van Geest B.V., 2019. Registered in the “butterfly group” amaryllis which means the tepals are not as narrow as the “spider” or “Cybister” types, but they have a curvy, star-like shape. The lofty scapes (over 80cm on good roots) are shaded with some smoky violet near the base, excellent for cutting. Each crowded scape is like a miniature bouquet, with at least 6 flowers, each to about 7”/18cm across. The bottom third of the flower is dominated by the creamy base color, and this is what gives the flowers their pleasing contrast. A productive and excellent performer!
Fa. G. Staalduinen & Zn. 2009. A medium sized warm pink amaryllis with very variable deep red streaks and wedges. Basically 'Gervase' is a party in every flower, and its inconsistency may not be to everyone's taste. A wonderful and noteworthy characteristic lies in the deep red filaments and style which add a dash of color co-ordinated panache! In the USA at least, sometimes marketed under the name 'Fantasy'. An exciting, if polarizing variety.
Amaryl C.V. 2013. In the realm of the klister/cluster type amaryllis, this one does what it is supposed to do-bloom with abundant foliage present. The incredible number of offsets creates a veritable lawn of rich green foliage. Tall scapes bearing 7-8 flowers each are light (but definite) yellow with a short trumpet form, and clean and silky texture. Three scapes were produced by the one clump purchased, not as many as others in this series. The individual flowers were notably short-lived here, reducing the effectiveness of the display.
Vreugdenhil, 1997. 'Yellow Goddess' is far from perfect, but puts on a good show nonetheless. It tends to send all of its scapes up at once, the individual flowers (3 or 4 per stem) are medium sized (6"/15 cm) across+/- and often malformed to some extent. The color is hard to describe, being not yellow or green or cream, but a pale blend of all of these. Presumably a hybrid with Hippeastrum evansiarum in its background, it too can show salmon flushes under high light intensity. A difficult bulb to keep going in the long haul, and now long out of production.
Dutch origin, 2025. ’Giant Flame’ puts four large (22 cm) crepey flowers that open hooded atop their pale green scapes. Soft coral red dominates, with a large and diffuse white star center. The midribs are whiskered in red, the filaments are white, and the style is dipped in coral rose. Tepaloids are sometimes present. The coloration isn’t overly vivid, and we’d call this amaryllis “Big Easy” since it is indeed large, but also easy on the eyes.
'Gilmar' is among the first amaryllis cultivars from Kebol's Brasbonitas (TM) program to arrive from Brazil to U.S. markets. It is a striking bicolor of somewhat imperfect form, similar to the hard-to-find 'Jaguar'. The crimson and white flowers are about 6"/15cm across, 4 per scape. Dutch firms are setting up in Brazil and Peru to take advantage of the opposite growing season (easier to send to markets in the Northern Hemisphere for winter bloom), lower energy and labor costs.
Registered by Leo Berbee in 2005, bred and introduced by "Dee" Cothran of California in 1979. Truly the first hybrid in the yellow category to enter the marketplace. Pale green-yellow with obvious imperfections, growing from a squatty bulb. Difficult to grow on (supposedly likes it really warm). This is an important heirloom, and Emaryllis hopes it is never lost to cultivation. Many of the newer yellow amaryllis clones owe their existence to this one.
1994, G.C. van Meeuwen & Zonen. 'Giraffe' is a charming smaller hybrid amaryllis with the nice patterning, but low bud count inherited from Hippeastrum papilio. Usually three 5"/12-13cm. flowers per scape. It seems not to be evergreen, but only a short rest is required for re-bloom. Bulbs clump up quickly and that is when they make a great show. Perhaps H. papilio x H. puniceum. Out of production.
Barnhoorn Hippeastrum 2008. The "Rascal"amaryllis series became available worldwide in 2014 with an offering posted on the former Sonatini website. This is one of that series that lives up to, and even surpasses expectations. Floriferous (5-6 flowers per scape) bulbs bear elegant scapes of small (3”/7.5cm) and silky light yellow flowers. What makes them unmistakeable though (and is not detected in promotional photos) is the chestnut brushing on the outer base of each flower that elegantly accentuates the long, lily-like depth of the floral tube. Exquisite in detail, graceful in form and excellent in performance. What is not to like?
Saad-Assaf circa 2014. A large flowered and striking Hippeastrum papilio influenced selection that successfully marries the coloration of that species with the classic open faced form of modern hybrids. The buds are beautifully patterned in green and red, lending an air of drama just before the flowers pop open. The deep burgundy red at the center fans outward and brightens a shade over the pointed, silken picotee edged tepals. The lower third is predominantly white, with a bit of diamond dusted sparkle in angled light. More than four flowers per scape. A very well done amaryllis hybrid that will find many fans.
2019, N.L. van Geest B.V. Like some of the earliest yellow hybrids, 'Yellow Star' tends to put up all of its scapes in quick succession. That is where the similarity ends; gone are the random tepal anomalies and questionable degree of "yellowness". It seems that 4-5 medium-large flowers per sturdy, dark-shaded scape are in order. The flowers are light yellow with a cool, green cast and a diffuse green heart, pointed tepals and a notably “drop tongue” lowermost tepal. A great show, and the best modern yellow amaryllis hybrid approaching full Dutch form to date.
Hadeco. Registered with KAVB in 2007. 'Gold Medal' is a South African bred hybrid with a color that is tough to pin down. Large crepe textured blooms open a warm apricot-orange. Rosy coral tones later dominate the flowers as they age and lose turgor. For this reason, once also offered as 'Salmon Beauty' in the U.S.
A Hadeco introduction. A charming and small-flowered amaryllis with 3-5 blooms per thin scape. It is distinctive, but bears a resemblance in form and coloration to a smaller 'Rembrandt van Rijn'. Cream and green tones with muted red brush-marks and a greenish center, not flat faced.
Fa. G. van Staalduinen, 2011. Silky, deep red flowers invite comparison to ‘Red Pearl,’ among others. Each olive green scape bears 4-5 large (7.5”/19cm) blooms that roll back at the tips, giving the flowers a rounded face. The pedicels and ovaries that hold the flowers are dark burgundy and highly lacquered compared to other ultra dark red amaryllises. ‘Grand Diva’ is distinctive and very nice in its own right.
2008, T. van Nieuwkerk. 'Grand Prix' makes big flowers of deep, garnet red with even deeper colored veins. The flowers have some unique qualities, the first being that they open wider than tall. As the filaments and style emerge from the ovary, and forward of the white "beard pads" they remain white more than 1/4 inch out. Most of the other "big reds" in this color class have dark filaments all the way into the pads, or at most a little lighter greenish shading. Due to the current popularity of the deep red amaryllises, these constant features are more and more important to get a proper ID.
Breeder: Fred Meyer, registered Berbee Beheer 2003. An exciting amaryllis, presumed backcross of a "cybister" type hybrid with something having more typical form. The result: 'Grandeur' has star shaped blooms that are deceptively large (7"/18cm), yet still elegant. Terra cotta red, cream, light green, and brick red all play well together on one exotic flower. Long out of circulation. ‘Happy Valley' seems the closest replacement.
2021, N.L. van Geest. 'Grandise Fantasy' lives up to its name by producing very large and beautifully patterned flowers. Cream white overlaid in fine stripes of red are enlivened by traces of raspberry near the tepal midribs. A punchy green star center and fine picotee edge make this amaryllis a wonderfully detailed floral presentation. Similar in coloration to 'Glee', but more informal in shape. That and the "drop tongue" lower tepal suggest Hippeastrum papilio in the background.
Registered 1960 by Ludwig as ‘Bianca'. Now more commonly sold under the name 'Green Goddess', at least in North America. Charming, with deep (not flat) mid-size white flowers having an icy green throat, of loose form and held well away from each other on wiry pedicels. The lowermost tepal has a ‘drop tongue’ presentation. Widely substituted, and thought to be out of circulation for several years, it was briefly resurrected in 2012.
2015, Fa. Kwekerij Van der Ende Flowers. A mid-size amaryllis with impeccable cutflower credentials. Tall, sturdy, sea green scapes bear 4-5 and sometimes 6 blooms, each about 4.5”/12cm across. The pale green flowers present a star shaped face by way of the spade shaped tepals. Variably penciled with rust red lines towards the center, some being nearly free of markings. Long lasting, slow to open “flat” and artfully poised on their scapes. They collapse slowly, merely nodding as they gracefully fade out. As of 2021 just entering the dry bulb trade in a limited way in Europe, so maybe it will see wider release in the future.
2019, Park Amaryllis VOF. Medium sized flowers of warm paprika red, with deeper red venation float on tall, chalky scapes. While “only” four flowers per umbel are typical, ‘Gypsy Girl’ offers unique shape as its most compelling attribute. Somewhat narrow tepals display a pronounced butterfly shape to set it apart. Another notable feature is the white variegation on the buds and flower backsides, giving the whole presentation a lively flair. On top of this, it is marketed as suitable for outdoor garden use, being more cold hardy than most.
'Half and Half' began being offered in the USA by one California company in 2011. It is one of Saad Assaf's in-house "Mediterranean amaryllis" hybrids. It appears related to 'Opal Star', but with a semi-trumpet form seen in its mid-size flowers. Slightly crimped tepals give it some movement and character. A bit reminiscent of long gone 'Grandeur' as well.
N.L. van Geest, 2021. A very large, “hooded” rather than totally flat bloomer with bold contrast between the dominant deep, rich red, and small and crisp white midrib star. The saturation and depth of the red color is simply breathtaking. Even with experience from only one bulb in its first season, it is impossible to deny that this is a stunning amaryllis that will always turn heads. Bravo!
Hadeco, 2025. A small and demure amaryllis, probably more intensely colored if flowered outdoors in stronger sunlight. 4-5 flowers per thin dark green scape. Soft cream white is blushed in the upper ⅔ with warm coral. The midribs are white and flanked by dark red whiskers that give the face of the flower personality. The tepals twist slightly with age. A hybrid for those seeking something subtle.
2007, Hippeastrum Breeding, B.V. 'Helios' is one of the most intriguing yellow amaryllis hybrids yet released. Short trumpets of a soft, but notably warm yellow make it unique. Most yellows to date have been as much green or cream as true yellow. The backside of the flower, near where it joins the ovary is marked with toffee, emphasizing the warmer qualities still more. I would venture a guess that 'Candy' and 'Marrakech' are siblings of 'Helios'. Easier to grow than ‘Germa', and a reliable re-bloomer. Often sold among other "hardy amaryllis" for outdoor gardening, but it deserves a space on your windowsill!
Jac Mense, 1989. A large, rich pink hybrid in the classic Dutch amaryllis form. 4-6 big, flat flowers with a cherry eye, and green star center leading out to light midribs. 'La Forest Morton' (a large pink with a dark throat) registered way back 1956 by Ludwig has been marketed in North America, but seems to always be this clone instead. A lot of the old Ludwig names ('Fantastica', 'Maria Goretti', and 'Dutch Belle' come to mind) and images are still used to sell modern types that are actually in production. 'Hercules' stands strong on its own merits!
T. van Nieuwkerk, 1995. 'Hermitage' has big, flat flowers meant to compete with the likes of 'Minerva'. The "red and white" flowers are marked heavily with a shade of reddish orange, rather than bright pure red. What is kind of cool about 'Hermitage' is the unique shape of the flower. Built with somewhat stubby tepals, the overall impression is that the flower possesses a somewhat boxy or geometric quality...you will always know if the supplier has switched cultivars on you! Out of production
Hadeco circa 2010. A large flowered, stout-stemmed amaryllis that shouldn't topple forced in lower lighting. Its blend of warm and cool pinks, and myriad tiny dots over a light background suggest a modern successor to the likes of 'Summertime' that was seemingly pulled out of production for virus issues.
Hadeco, circa 2014. Offered as a pre-potted bulb in the U.S. Having thought this was going to be identical to ‘Buttercup’ (which turned out to be ‘Marrakech’ in our case) hopes were not high. Actually, they may still not be even though this does indeed appear to be a distinct cultivar. Very small flowers on very thin scapes. The scapes in this example had some worrying color streaks, so its health may not be up to snuff. It does not fade to white as it ages. Probably out of production already.
Amaryl C.V. 2018. True bright orange, six per apple green scape. Tepals more pointed than rounded, giving a lighter feel than the diameter would suggest. Evokes the long lost ‘Eos’ to a degree. Let's face it, orange (like red) is a color that amaryllis (Hippeastrum) hybrids do very well!
A Hadeco mini with bright cerise and white flowers, a refreshing color for this type. Easy to re-bloom year to year. Deserves wider popularity.
Kwekersvereniging Amaryl C.V. 2008, A huge, loose, and very crepe textured flower. White with greenish tones overlaid with heavy markings of deep garnet red. Dramatic, even by amaryllis standards. Seemingly only offered briefly, this one deserves a comeback!
Hello,
I have a few amaryllis that I need help with identifying. If you guys could send me an email so I could send the pics that would be great.
Thank you
Martin
I have seen no mention of red leaf fungus on your site. Is this something I should be concerned about? I get about 5 or 6 plants infected with it every year. Is it curable? Should I keep infected plants or ditch the bulbs on the compost heap? So far, I’ve been ditching them, but it keeps cropping up. Sometimes on brand new bulbs. Love your addiction- feeding website, by the way.
Hi Stella! Yes, those blank spaces were remnants of the server update, and they should be cleaned up now.
I’ve held on to some amaryllis bulbs for many years though they never bloom. The “rosea” type imported from India that I saw blooming freely in the ground in Thailand. It may be time to part ways. I will quickly toss plants with obvious virus issue if I don’t intend to breed with them. Often I compost or give away amaryllis that I have good photos of, and are still widely available commercially…I have a critical space issue! I really need to stop making my own crosses. So many new cultivars come out each year these days, and that’s what Emaryllis is trying to document.
I think its great that you’ve had some pleasant surprises by way of benign neglect 🙂
Thanks for visiting, and Happy New Year!
Thanks for your insights. I have come to a place where all my amarylli must put up with the same conditions, or they get the boot! I do keep ‘Germa’ going with longer dry periods, but that’s about it.
Yes, do send your questionable ‘Cleopatra’ photo on and we’ll try our best.
TGIF,
Emaryllis
All formats are subject to the ol’ switcheroo! Let us know what you get when it opens!
The pre-potted bulbs are doing amazing I have to say. So far I got three correct varieties from the named ones. ‘Glee’ ‘Pinkolo II’ and ‘Marquis'(Alfresco). How are yours doing? Are they sprouting yet?
So happy yours are doing well! I’ve only got the ‘Red Lion’ box kit to go, and two of the pre-potted ones (‘Rise Up’ and ‘Mojito’) are in fat bud, so should open next week!
Sweet! I’m looking forward to seeing yours posted! Sorry, to see the website acting up on you. I hope it straightens out soon. ?
Another Pinkolo II(I bought 2) bloomed true(even more beautiful than the first) and a Bellini! Oh, my gosh it is So Beautiful! 😍🥰 Ah, my poor 📸 skills can’t even come close to capturing how stunning they are. I wasn’t sure I even wanted the Bellini after seeing the photos on Google. So glad I bought it.
So far the labeled potted bulbs sold through Walmart are correct with the exception of the Stargazer. I got a Tosca from that one, which is on its third scape right now and looking gorgeous. I was not a fan of the first scape, 4 malformed blooms, the 2nd had two nice flowers, and the third has 2 perfect flowers and two buds getting ready.
Agreed, ‘Bellini’deserves more fanfare than it gets! Very curious that ‘Tosca’ was gotten, it is probably only produced in Brazil at this point. A firm that now grows many double ‘Nymph’ series varieties is listing ‘Stargazer’ in its portfolio, so we may see that sturdy beauty again someday 🙂 Happy New Year!
Indeed, it does! Fairly long lasting too.
I am very curious too about how ‘Tosca’ ended up here.
I still have a couple more of them waiting to bloom, who knows, Stargazer may still appear.
I meant to wish you a Happy New Year too.
I do hope to see Stargazer someday. My last one is a Bellini after all. Oh, and I realized that I forgot to mention who packaged these prepotted bulbs they’re by Euroblooms.
I think the ‘Ambiance’ is actually ‘Fairytale’. The blooms are only about 4in big and your library says ‘Ambiance’ blooms are usually 6in big. The markings are very crisp too, no blushing, or bleeding of red in the white. I wish I could share photos with you, but my email isn’t functioning. How are your kits doing?
‘Fairytale’ is still in production, so that’s possible. It will be smaller and more striped/brushmarked with red, where ‘Ambiance’ will have larger patches of solid red.
It is more colored and striped than ‘Ambiance’, but not quite as colored as ‘Fairytale’ especially on the bottom three petals. The shape is also more “butterfly” like than either. Has much more red than ‘Moon Scene’ which I’ve seen photos of in full sun. ‘Moon Scene’ s white and fine stripes seem to be stable in high light.
I don’t know, nothing seems to match it. 🫠
If you want to have me try to ID it, you can send a photo to info(at)emaryllis.com Possibly if it is smaller you have ‘Twinkle Star’?
Okay, I’ll send you a photo, or two. I am very interested in what you think.
Those are really exciting! The clear liners will make it easier to see what’s going on with the roots. Orchid keepers use clear pots/liners for that reason. The two local nurseries I went to were also limited in varieties. One had four; Double Dragon, Striped(I think) Amadeus, Giant Amadeus, and Pleasure. They were Jumbo sized bulbs for 22.99 each. The other place had ‘The big three’ as box kits and dry bulbs, and a few popular ones like Merry Christmas, Exotic Star, Papillo, Marquis, Dancing Queen, Rilona, and Amadeus. Large bulbs for $25 and extra jumbo for $33. Alas, like you said, not much for new ones. They are really trying to squeeze us overseas customers. I notice the prices for buyers in Europe are half or more, as much per bulb. ?
Thanks for sharing what you are seeing and the prices!I talked to a big Phalaenopsis grower about the clear pots, and they said that the roots can also photosynthesize like leaves (they are indeed green when exposed to light) which also helps them grow.
Welcome! Sorry, if I’m writing too much. ?
That’s right! Phals are epiphyte so their roots are normally exposed to the light/air. Pot culture isn’t ideal for them, but it would be difficult to commercialize them on board mounts. But they’ve come up with ways to adjust pot and mediums to better meet their needs.
I went a bit mad this month. I got infected by the extremely reasonable price of $5.56 for potted bulbs at Walmart. Named; Ice Pink, Pinkolo, Marquis, Bellini, Glee, Ferrari, Red Peacock, and Stargazer. I have acquired all, but Ferrari and Red Peacock. Glee opened yesterday and if its not Glee its really darn close! Its got two scapes up and a third peeking! Downside, is its kinda weak the smallest bulb.
Oh, and the 5 totalgreen box kits are going. The striped one opened two weeks ago…as Lime Flare. Should rename those kits as Total Surprise kits. But honestly that’s what I love about them. If they give me a Ruby Star I’ll be tickled pink! I saw Opal Star was featured in mysteries of the box.
Thanks for the report, Rosie! So funny to see ‘Lime Flare’ show up this way. Keep us posted!
Lime is my first kit since Bejeweled. I had a few mishaps, lost nearly all my plants. Finally, restarted keeping house plants this past summer. Part of the reason why it doesn’t matter to me what I get because anything will be new. I came to your site to figure out what it was and sure enough you had one posted in a kit post! I’m so glad you’re still active!
I’m so happy to hear that this site was useful in this way!
Your site is a wonderful reference and resource! I don’t think I’ve seen another like it. I love your personal perspective written in the descriptions of each entry. That there isn’t a
boring standard format repeated endlessly is one of the charms.
Thanks so much, Rosie! Its been a labor of love for over 20 years 🙂
It really shows. ?
I got a random red from hannaford, which has been stumping me good. 2 smoky scapes(3rd coming) w dark purple tops, 7 and 8 buds each, 8 open right now, shimmering garnet red color, rounded petals w some undulation, the edges are slightly rolled in, tiny teploids. Not sure if they’re going to open fully flat or sweep back, yet.
And a “pink” kit opened, it looks exactly like Ambiance. O.o The buds are so pretty with that red striping.
To clarify my previous comment, I meant it really shows that it has been a labor of love for 20 years. 😊
Thanks so much! We just did an update to the back end of the site that should allow for a better mobile experience soon, and perhaps a gallery that allows multiple images of each entry.
It is so difficult to find someone selling the Thai amaryllis
Hello Eva, ‘Thai Thai’has been in short supply, but last season Bulb and Blossom did carry it! Hopefully they will offer it again this season. Their website says that they will start pre-sales August 2025.
Greetings Anja! I’m sorry, but Emaryllis is not a registrar for Hippeastrum hybrids. KAVB in the Netherlands is the official body that does this. Thanks for using our website 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one who ends up with flowers that look nothing like the box – I’d be pretty miffed if I got a double pink/white flower when I was expecting Red Lion!
I bought one bulb this year which is only just starting into growth although it was potted up 2 months ago – I’m hoping it’s been putting the last 8 weeks into good root development instead of just sulking! But on the positive side, all but one of my previous years amaryllis are showing healthy scapes.
Thanks for commiserating on the mislabels. Many times the bulbs that take some time to root are worth the wait!
Love the new Tika series, even though I am firmly on Team Single!
You mention virus, and I am afraid I am seeing signs, yellow mottling, on new leaves from 2 bulbs I got last year. Is that definitive or can other things be confused for mosiac virus?
There are other viruses that can impact Hippeastrum, but the blocky light/dark green pattern is pretty diagnostic.
No box kits this year?
I treated myself to one – another generic ‘red and white stripe’ one from a supermarket – no sign of any scape as yet.
Went into my local shop to pick up some milk this weekend, and they had a potted amaryllis with a damaged scape reduced from £7 to £1.75. Took it to the till and the barcode wouldn’t scan, so they said I could have it for FREE!!! I’m leaving the scape to see if it flowers as I’d like to now what colour I have – if it doesn’t, I’ll just grow it on for next year.
Wishing you a happy growing year in 2025!
You are the first to know…a few box kits coming soon! Good luck with your bargain amaryllis!
I just gave a few a try and they worked by simply clicking on the name of the business. Let me know if you still find the links broken. Thanks!
Great!
You would be able to simply pull the bulb straight up. Good luck with your bulb!
I was given what I was told were a few “vintage” amaryllis bulbs by a friend who told me they were Moon Scene. Do you know if there is another amaryllis, white petals with red/ruby wiskering similar to Moon Scene? If Moon Scene was released in 2013, that doesn’t really seem “vintage”. The bulbs I have bloom longer (Feb – June, on Texas coast, zone 9) than other amaryllis bulbs that I have, the bloom is about 4 1/2″ wide and stem is 12-18″ tall, so shorter than some of my others. It does look like Moon Scene. I can send a photo if you think that will help.
Cici, you are correct that ‘Moon Scene’ is a modern cultivar, still in production ad therefore not vintage. There have been many white with red “whisker” types over the years. Two such varieties (we don’t have photos because they predate the site) are ‘Lipstick’ and Hadeco’s ‘Masai’.
Thanks, Phil. Have a great gardening year yourself!
Hello! Please help me figure it out. There is an image of the Firecracker hippeastrum on your site. It is orange and has narrow petals. Produced by Hadeco. But on the originator’s website, under the name Firecracker, a completely different flower is presented! It’s red, it has a different flower shape, a different petal shape. There is confusion. A mistake has crept in somewhere. I really want to understand this issue. Thank you for the answer!
I thought a waxed amyryllis bulb would be perfect to give to a nursing home resident. It requires no care and needs only a small space and gives the person something to watch as it grows. Unfortunately, the 2 bulbs that I tried did not grow. All that I got was about two inches of growth. When I removed the wax and suspended the bulb in water they grew and flowered.
Loving all the updates this year, thank you for feeding my addiction! And thank you for the link to the US supplier with Thai Thai and Aurora, I ordered both. The Aurora just finished blooming, so sweet, but the Thai Thai all came up just leaves. The bulbs are super tiny, maybe they will bloom next year and show if they really are Thai Thai…
Thanks for your comments! A few of the several ‘Thai Thai’ I received did the same…all leaves. They all look true-to-type at least. A few also had Hippeastrum Mosaic Virus, so I have rogues those out. Good luck re-growing yours.
Good for you! I definitely see more correct labels this year than some other years. Good thing, as the prices of some are staggering!
Thanks, Stella! Nice to have you back enjoying the flurry of content 🙂
It is very common to end up with one of the “big three” no matter what you buy, so it was quite strange to see ‘Opal Star’! The next to bloom should be open in a couple of days, so check back!
“Caught up in the end-of-season sales frenzy, kits were bought in the last day of 2023, and first two days of 2024. This is something E would never advise our audience to get caught up in”
You don’t have to – any time I see seriously reduced amaryllis bulbs, I’m guaranteed to get caught up in a sales frenzy, with or without advice!!!
It’s good to know Emaryllis is not alone!
At least it’s the right colour!
I’m still waiting for any flowers at all – and annoyingly, the bulbs I kept from last year are actually closer to flowering than the supposed ‘flowering in time for Christmas’ pair that I bought new this year – even though I wasn’t trying to get my old bulbs to flower early. Out of those, one has produced leaves and the other is just showing the tip of a scape!
Hmmmm, it sounds like we are having the opposite experience this season. I have only one of my “home grown” bulbs scaping…but then I only brought them in from outdoors a couple of weeks ago. We’ve had a slow and gentle autumn so far! I hope your collection picks up speed!
I’m not usually keen on doubles but this is a stunner! Congratulations on having two box kits that actually have the right bulbs in them – I’m doing well if I even get the right colour.
Whatever the reason for the increase in white, it’s really pretty! I just bought the one box kit this year – so far, it’s produced lots of leaves but no scape. I had a similar issue with one purchased last year from the same place, which never flowered – hoping that one will flower this year!
Very nice! I’m not a Minerva fan but would be very happy with that. And YAY! to the release of the first of your awaited 2023 box kit reviews.??
Oh, how I wish ‘Jewel’ were still in production. You can still find stalwart double ‘Blossom Peacock’ readily and recently introduced ‘Cape Horn’ has some fragrance along with trumpet type ‘Santiago’. Hybrids with some of the white flowered species should yield fragrant progeny, but these have yet to show up in commerce.
I see them at all of the Big Box hardware stores!
Woohoo!!!! Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a box kit post from Emaryllis. Looking forward to the first update.
Thanks, Phil! Two kits are budded up, so it won’t be long!
After several years of buying expensive named bulbs that ended up being nothing of the kind (usually just Appleblossom or Red Lion – and often, the Appleblossom stood in for a red variety and vice versa!) I now only buy the super cheap supermarket box kits. I still find the colours are wrong, but at least I don’t get so mad if I’ve only paid £3-£4 instead of £15!
I love your unnamed amaryllis. So beautiful.
I’m not remotely surprised by AppleBlossom standing in for a red and white striped one. I’ve had Apple Blossom in place of a supposed pure white and a red and white striped version so far this year – waiting to find out what my mystery ‘red’ bulb I found in a charity (thrift) shop in January this year will be – although it’s nearly opening and the bud is awfully pale to be hiding a dark red flower!
There seems to be consensus that mislabeling is as much a problems this season as ever. Sigh. Since you ordered an Israeli variety, they are usually substituted with others from the same supplier. As with my ‘Bagatelle’, check the Amaryllis IL Coming Up page…perhaps you got a pre-release ‘Replay’.
Thanks! Just photographing another cybister type hybrid today and hope to post soon. The two box kits are photographed and just waiting for me to do a write-up. You should patent the term Spamaryllis (™) lol!
Good luck with your ‘Desire’ bulb! The most common reason that hybrids don’t take is a basic chromosome number incompatibility, but there are other factors. Short of embryo rescue and tissue culture techniques you can just accept it or try a few tricks of the trade. Try the reverse cross using the failed pod parent’s pollen on the other variety. Cutting the stigma off of the style, and using the sticky sap it exudes can work by removing the “lock and key” system of the stigma. Using a compatible pollen that is “killed” via microwaving, then mixing it with the desired pollen can also get around the style’s lock and key system. If you know the cross will fail, cutting the scape and placing it in water can prevent the bulb from controlling the shutting off of resources to the failing pod.
Love the new hybrids – Congratulations!
My mystery ‘pink’ amaryllis whose first flower was white with a faint pink overlay is continuing to confuse – the second flower has opened white with a green centre (with a tiny pink dot at the base of each petal) and the tiniest possible amount of pink on the tips. and the third flower is all green & white. Definitely not the very strong pink colour shown on the box, but at least I only paid £4 for it! Can’t wait to see what the ‘solid red’ and ‘red and white striped’ varieties flower as!!!
Thanks, Phil! I’ve got a few more hybrids opening soon so stay tuned! Your pale mystery may be something unique, and you did get it at a bargain! Keep us abreast of the others.
Haha – red and white striped didn’t flower at all, solid red was Appleblossom and my second ‘red’ (someone else’s unwanted Christmas present) is now flowering pink…so of a grand total of 4 bulbs, none of them have flowered as they were supposed to!
Amazing 4/4 mislabels. Quite an indictment of the industry! Hopefully we can maintain at least a sense of humor about this situation, albeit with a note of frustration.
It looks like ‘American Dream’ and a spate of other van Geest hybrids are set for autumn 2023 delivery. This one is a “must have.” 🙂 These are not huge like ‘Daphne’ but still large at about 16-18cm. I imagine under ideal conditions they could be a bit larger.
Stella, I doubt you did anything to cause the scapes to shrivel. It is not that rare of an issue, and more likely is due to improper handling in the cooling period after harvest. Ethylene build-up in their storage container could “blind” the bulbs, killing the buds. There is also a chance that overdone heat treatment (aimed at killing bulb scale mites) could adversely affect the floral growths, but not the foliage. Hopefully you’ll be able to grow it on and se what it can do next season. Thanks for being an Emaryllis user and Good luck!
Oh, Olesya if you are writing from Ukraine you have the compassion of all of us that condemns the brutal and cruel war being waged on your people. It is amazing and uplifting that you can find some moments of calm to appreciate the natural beauty of plants.
This new NL van Geest variety was apparently sold in Europe under its company accession number before the ‘Lemon Cream’ name was registered officially. They are the same variety…but as you say a variable one at that. The bulb I had bloom last summer even produced some flowers with extra petals, almost a double flower! It is still not sold commercially here in USA. I got mine from Vlad at Bulb in a Box.
Please stay safe and warm, and I hope the spirit of the holidays fills you with hope for brighter days. We stand with you.
Yes, Stella, you can mail a photo or two to info at emaryllis.com
So will we be getting any of Emaryllis’ inimitable box kit reviews this season? I hope so – we need something to brighten a grim winter!
Only one box purchased so far…so I can at least promise that much!
All gifts are nice, but those that require your care for months or years can become a burden of sorts. I try to convey the specificity of my interest in plants so that others don’t try to give me something I don’t really need or want. It doesn’t always work…and sometimes I just still have to say thank you, and be happy that they are trying to give me something from the heart! PS Ivan is still doing well at the BG! Your gift was much appreciated in that case!
As I see those photos above, these bulbs are in a very small pots. Hippeastrum needs lots of nutrient to grow and flowering. I always give enough big pot to let them grow, and my bulbs bring the best they can. I can’t enclose photos here, but I happily would show how my Hippeastrums look like. All leaves and flowers are perfect and big. I buy derectly from Netherlands, from a reliable company. They sell big bulbs, ship carefully and they have a best price! Lemon star 9,3 euros, Tierre 8,51, Grandise Fantasy 9,32 The bulb size around 30-32 cm or bigger!
I think you are looking at bulb kit photos…I try to grow them in exactly the same pots the list come with to show performance. Yes, Hippeastrum hybrids are heavy feeders, and bigger pots with very well-drained media are great! I grow in mid-size pots due to a lack of space, and putting them out in spring, when heavy rains might oversaturate the media leading to rot. You are lucky to be able to buy directly from NL van Geest, I wish we could buy direct here in the USA! Thanks for writing!
Hi, can I order from South Africa?
Janet,
Emaryllis is for information only, we don’t sell amaryllis bulbs. Lucky for you, Hadeco grows in S. Africa! Thanks for the inquiry!
Yes, sadly Royal Colors is gone. It became I Love Amaryllis (which still has a FaceBook page describing it as a travel company) for the European market, but alas even that company has now stopped selling amaryllis bulbs. It seems Royal Colors was skirting legal boundaries by shipping the way they did, but they are greatly missed by those of us who managed to get some unique offerings over the years.
Agreed! They were great early on. I stay away from recommending specific vendors because not all sources operate within other country’s agricultural regulations. The buyer assumes the risk. Inspection by USDA/Aphis is routine in the Netherlands due to their large horticultural industry, so it seems like it would be feasible for a Dutch company to sell direct to North America. The issue is probably that small direct shipments to individual customers are not very profitable.
Hello
I want to identify one of my hybrid
Habib,
If you send photos to me at: info (at) emaryllis.com I will try to ID your mystery amaryllis.
Bill
This year’s amarylllis have finally flowered – and I have a first. I bought three kits, all under £5, and ALL THREE are flowering in the colour they were meant to. My white amaryllis has flowered white (huge flowers on an enormously tall plant, with a lovely green centre to the white), my red & white one has flowered red & white (barely a foot tall – never had such a short amaryllis!) and…drum roll…my third attempt to grow Queen of the Night seems to have worked. Anyway, she’s flowering in the right colour and looks pretty similar to the photo in the gallery. My last two attempts have been white and red & white striped, so I’ll settle for a solid deep red, even if it’s not the right one!
Only had one rebloom from last year so far – the others are still sulking.
Congratulations on your bargain blooms! It sounds like you hit the jackpot this season. So happy that your quest for ‘Queen of
The Night’ is fulfilled at last!
Thanks for your recommendation of the Bulb in a Box channel – loving it!
So glad you like it too, and Vlad will be delighted! He also has a large and very active Facebook group by the same name.
You have my sympathy – none of my box kits have flowered yet (been super-cold, so they’ve all been sulking) but a couple of them have opened partially, and so far, I’m dubious that they are going to match the labels. Waiting to see if my umpteenth attempt at Queen of the Night has been successful.
I really like this site for all the information that is available. I’ve been looking for the “Scarlet Baby” Amaryllis for several years and have been unable to find it. Is it even being produced anymore?
While the registration site KAVB hasn’t stated that ‘Scarlet Baby’ is out of cultivation, it is clear that it hasn’t been sold commercially in about 15 years. From about 2010 on it was used as a marketing name, but substituted with new varieties. It would still be successful in my view; the bronzed foliage and crimped edges of the flowers were nice details. Thanks for using the site!
I didn’t realize this year wasn’t a great year for amaryllises. I guess I got lucky! I pre-order 4 different sonatini and got them. The exciting bit was they arrived at the end of October and they looked ready to go! Now, considering I bought 3 of them for my mom’s birthday at the end of November, I was really happy I have my very mini-fridge I bought for keeping amaryllises cool. I caved on Nov. 20th, took them out, potted them, and gave them to her that day. They are growing quite well and, as of today, I can see the petals for one bulb on its two scapes. One bulb is taking its sweet time but that is fine. 🙂
We’ll see if I got the kinds I ordered which are: Belladonna, Brightspark, Joker, and Lemon Sorbet (that one is for myself). I had good luck last year with the one bulb I ordered for myself. I ordered a Thai Thai and it was correct.
I wouldn’t say it wasn’t still at least good, save for retail nursery prices and some delayed shipments here in the U.S. I think mail order firms had already set prices before covid related impacts had really reared their head. The loss of Royal Colors as a source of direct shipments from Europe also makes for a less exciting year for some unique sourcing. Also Hadeco’s MyAmaryllis.com does not seem to be shipping, and they have offered some of the harder-to-get South African grown cultivars.
The South African grown Hippeastrum are amazing! They are definitely ready to start showing off earlier than most. You made some nice choices, and I bet they will come true to type.I hope your bulbs bloom brightly, thanks for using emaryllis.com!
Poor thing! I’m glad you rescued it – it was a noble deed!
I’ve had several amaryllis like this – chiefly due to my cheapskate nature which means I wait for the ‘posh’ box kits to be heavily reduced before buying. They sometimes flower surprisingly well – I just stick them on a high shelf so I can look up at the flower – and often plant the bulb slightly angled to compensate and then repot it upright once it’s flowered!
I was looking for a bookshelf that wasn’t entirely full…I think a well elevated perch will be the only way to appreciate this one. Hopefully it makes a second “normal” Scape later!
No – the two cheapest were labelled as ‘from Holland’ but that could just be where the kits were made up, and not necessarily where the bulbs were from. No reference to origin at all on the slightly more expensive one – just the supermarket branding. (That one did come as a named variety, although I’ll be surprised if it is what it says on the box – I’m usually doing well if the flower colour matches the picture on the box, so it is a bit of a lucky dip!)
Yay! Life is always better when I see Emaryllis has a new blog post (-:
You just made my day, thank you!
I’m ONLY buying super-cheap grocery store/supermarket kits now. Last year, I mail ordered 3 bulbs from a ‘specialist’ nursery at around £10 each (that’s around 13.50 in USD) because I didn’t think I could get any locally. One arrived so mushy with red blotch it was worthless, one grew & failed just before flowering and the other grew & failed just after – all had to get thrown out.
A few weeks later, my husband found some cheap kits at the supermarket (costing the equivalent of $3.50 USD). All three flowered really well and I’ve been able to grow them on for this year too.
So far, this year I’ve bought 3 box kits, (costing between $6.50 and $3.50 USD), all of which had MORE growing media than I needed, pots with drainage holes (and saucers), no sign of red blotch, no sign of starting into growth while in the box AND all with 2 inch long healthy roots. I’m never buying from a specialist nursery again!
It’s so wonderful that you are getting solid results from the cheapest kits! Do your cartons disclose the country of origin for the bulbs?
“The color class will probably at least be solid white”
I wish I had your confidence. I’ve had white amaryllis bloom pink, striped amaryllis bloom solid red and dark red solid amaryllis bloom pale red & white!
My experience with this brand kit has usually been good when it comes to at least ‘Minerva’ being correct (even ‘Mambo’ was a very close facsimile!). The bulb supplier has three white varieties in production, so if they can’t get the color correct, it means the switch is happening in the packing plant…which I’m sure does happen!
Good evening!
Do you know where is it possible to buy a Santos Amaryllis. I can’t find it anywhere 🙁
Great collection!
Olga, I wish ‘Santos’ was still marketed too, as do many other amaryllis fans. It had a commercial run of about 10 years. It was the only modern striped foliage hybrid to make it into large scale production. It seems to be a strong grower and easy bloomer, so it should have stayed in production for much longer. There is always a chance that a Dutch grower still has it and will consider producing it again, but those chances are slim. Since you mentioned this cultivar, I will update the photo of ‘Santos’ in our gallery to show a bit of its unique foliage! Thanks for writing.
Great if from Melbourne Australia. Lots of fabulous hippeas flowering in mid September. ( our spring) .
Continually use this amazing resource
Thx michael barrett cliviaman
So nice to have friends down under! Of course we love Clivia as well as Hippeatrum. Happy spring to you, as we are just ending our growing season up here. Thanks for using emaryllis.com 🙂
I have an amaryllis that bloomed and the bulb dried up. I lifted the top off and there was several small green bulbs under it. Will these bulbs turn into plants? What do I have to do to get them to produce flowers?
Yes, the offsets took over when the main growth died (sometimes this is from Narcissus Bulb Fly if grown outdoors.) You could just leave them as a clump for another year, or separate them and replant each in its own small pot, bringing the nose of each little bulb just above the soil surface. Fertilize and keep evenly moist through the growing season. Since they will be too small to bloom the first or even second year they could be grown on during the first winter or two indoors in a sunny window, or better yet under plant lights to extend daylength. It takes some patience to grow them on for bloom! Once they reach blooming size, they can be treated as outlined on our Amaryllis Care page.
Help would be appreciated about growing from seed. I have seen some hints about “floating” them and then transplanting. Is this necessary? Also, how long do you let the seed “dry” or lie dormant before planting? I have some capsules about ready to pop, and need to know whether to store or plant right away. If planting directly (I plan to use pure coir to start — I live in a very dry climate), how deep should the seeds be covered?
Many thanks!
Hi, Meredith,
Hippeastrum seed are quite easy to germinate. When the pods begin to split, I cut them and drop them into a paper lunch bag. Within a few days the seed will spill out; they are ready for planting immediately. You can hold them for a few months in dry conditions if necessary.
The floating method is used to gauge viability for a large quantity of seed, or to test old seeds…for you it introduces an extra step and a delicate transplanting operation. Just sow on your media and sift a fraction of an inch/centimeter over them and firm them in. Putting the seed flat in a plastic bag or container will keep the humidity high and assist in germination. You should have grass-like seedlings appearing within 2-3 weeks! Once they are done germinating you can acclimate them to normal humidity levels. Good luck!
4082 looks just like Bambara! Are the blooms > 7 inches?
It does indeed look a lot like ‘Bambara’. It just seems odd to sell in a manner of new, unregistered names by using a numeric code. So, it remains here in purgatory! Yes, it was around 7″ diameter.
Jeff, After looking at all of my photos of both 4082 and ‘Bambara’ taken over time, I agree with you. I still have to wonder why it was marketed without the cultivar name, as there is no patent or trademark to infringe on a variety so old. Thanks for pointing out the obvious “similarity”!
Please tell me why doesn’t the double white amarillas don’t make seeds…. How can I make them more please…. If there is no seeds
Double amaryllis petals are often formed from the sexual parts of the flower. If the stigma and pistil become petal-like they will not function to transport pollen cells to the ovary for seed development. More often though, the male parts (anthers and filaments) are what become “petals”…sometimes with some distorted anthers still bearing some pollen. Breeders take advantage of having many plants to work with, the odds are better for finding a double flower with functional female parts.
Beautiful flower! Are there any available? I’m in the UK and I would buy some bulbs.
Do you know the background of this variety? It looks a little bit as H. papilio with that long thin stem. Thanks, Eduardo
Eduardo, I’m not at all sure of the breeding background of this one.Many of the species have thin scapes compared to the big hybrids! You will be pleased to know that Park Amaryllis is ramping up production of these smaller to mid-size varieties, so availability should become steadier in the next few seasons. Have a look at their recently updated site that includes several that do look H. papilio influenced:
https://www.parkamaryllis.com
Could you please say more about “pollen shedding means a bulb in trouble”? I had a couple of Charisma make a real puddle of pollen on my floor this year. What should I do for them? Thanks!
Meredith,
Amaryllis bulbs (whether potted or “grown” as waxed bulbs) without functioning roots results in stunting and commonly pollen grains shedding before the flower even opens. I’ve usually tried to reach the anthers with a pair of manicure scissors, then rinse with a gentle stream of water to remove any already shed pollen in the flowers. In healthy flowers, the anthers are usually an aesthetic plus, and the grains will only come off when brushed.
Thanks Bill ! This article was just what I needed. I melted off the plastic ” prison” as Pritch called it) with a lighter ? and chipped away at the coating. Then I potted the bulb in moist potting soil. It hasn’t bloomed yet. I just couldn’t stand not putting it up . . The flower bud looks to be deflating a bit but I’m hoping to save the bulb. . .
Happy to help, Lani! I hope you succeed with it next year…it may only hint at its possible performance on this bloom.
There is something very reassuring about taking time out from the current craziness our world is in to read an Emaryllis kit report. Thank you for brightening my day!
So nice to hear that! I have seen the visitation numbers going up lately, so hopefully others are also enjoying a pleasant distraction:-) Thanks for the comment!
I was interested to note your comment about the absence of red blotch in these kits. Over the past 3 years, I’ve noticed red blotch (and an absence of live roots) in the expensive garden centre boxed kits (as well as a tendency for the flower to look nothing like the cultivar advertised on the box). The cheap supermarket kits have all been free of red blotch and all but one has had at least some live root. Plus good drainage holes. As far as I can see, the only advantage of the expensive kits is the named cultivars…but as they’re usually wrong anyway, I’m sticking to my £4 nameless box kits in future!
One of the main reasons for the move to growing in Peru in particular is that the climate naturally discourages fungal diseases, and these are often the least expensive, mass produced bulbs. Perhaps that is why the bulb kits are much cleaner of late, but whatever the reason it is a welcome development!
I’m so glad to have found your site!
These kits were actually available at 2 of my local Dollar General’s this year, I was so shocked to see them there! 10.00 a box, about 3.00 cheaper than the kits at Lowes (those had a ceramic pot with a coir disc).
I actually love the pots these came in. Unfortunately I found them in January, both had sent their stalks in the box. I purchased only one for this reason. I couldn’t get it to straighten up so removed it, but it sent a second up about 5 days after and gave 5 flowers. I just wish I knew what cultivator it was.
How frustrating! Can’t say I’m surprised though – far too often my expensive named amaryllis bulbs have ended up looking nothing like the name on their label! I now have a rule that I don’t spend over £5 (that’s under $7 USD) – at least that way, I haven’t wasted too much money if they are not as advertised!
In spite of restrictions, I was able to get 2 box kits from my local food store and mail ordered another 3 bulbs – waiting to see how they will flower. Also waiting for last year’s ‘Christmas Star’ to flower – it didn’t bloom last year, so I have no idea if it will be Christmas Star or not – if not, this will be my THIRD non-Christmas Star.
Agreed, Philippa! Price doesn’t predict better outcomes for amaryllises. There are some pricey suppliers that generally have good sized bulbs and rarely have major labeling errors, but there are less expensive firms that do just as well. It is those really inexpensive bulbs (and kits) that come off as the most amazing value.
Sigh! Three strikes and we’re out here too – ‘Christmas Star’ is not fully opened yet, but I can see enough to know it is NOT as labelled – streaked/veined pinky red with a green/white midrib and green/white tips. Just glad I only paid £2 for it, out of the end-of-season bargain trolley. If I’d paid the full price of £15 (over $20USD) I’d have been really annoyed!
When it’s fully open, can I email you a pic to see if you can ID it for me?
Well, you are a savvy shopper! Its a lot easier to take a mislabel when you havn’t parted with too much money. Please do send your photo along for ID whenever you’d like.
Oh, boy….no good! My tracking status is still shown as “In transit” but considering it was mailed around the same date as yours, I am not counting on it arriving. I actually wanted to place a second smaller order a few weeks back, and that’s when they stated that they are no longer going to sell outside of Europe. They cite the cost of phytosanitary certificates as the main issue. You are so right…what a shame. I hope you and others get refunds if they did not succesfully get the bulbs to customers.
Considering that Sonatini dissappeared this year, and now Royal Colors, the amaryllis world just got a bit smaller.
I’ll post back here when and if I get a package…empty or otherwise.
Thanks for the heads up, even if it is bad news.
Not even a “no” on a request for refund? Not the best business practice. I too received an empty (and very beat up) box about about a week ago. My box was intercepted at JFK for no phytosanitary certificate. Contents destroyed. The box was marked as though it was a “gift” and merely stated “garden products” as the contents. I might try asking for a refund for the bulbs themselves (and not the shipping) to see if that gets a response. A sad and frustrating situation.
Hi There,
Is there any way you could post a picture and description of which crosses are involved in ‘Devil Smile’? It’s a Komoriya hybrid and there’s very little information of it on the internet.
Thank You
Hello Jose. I haven’t grown any of the Komoriya hybrids, but they certainly are striking. Looking at some photos of ‘Devil’s Smile’ online I can only make a semi-educated guess. It looks like two flowers per scape, so likely a primary cross (two species involved) or perhaps a more complex hybrid back-crossed to a species or primary hybrid. Because they sell both Hippeastrum papilio and H. corriense, it could be a simple cross of those two, but when I see the flower it really suggests that H. psittacinum might be involved. That’s about as close as I can get based on (as you say) little online about this hybrid. Thanks for writing in and Happy New Year!
Hi – I would like to share some photos of anonymous Amaryllis to see if anyone can identify them, would this be possible?
Sure, Paula! Try attaching them to a post and we’ll have a go at ID. If it doesn’t work, attach them to an email to info(at)emaryllis.com
Thanks for visiting the site.
Agne,
It is impossible to come up with a Top10, as it would vary from day to day! I think one could build a nice starter collection of colors and forms with the following: Exotic Star, Chico, Magnum, Naranja, Neon, Glee, Rapido, Doublet, Temptation, and Spartacus. By tomorrow I would probably have a completely new list…but with Exotic Star and Chico still on it…the species charm of those is hard to beat!
Hi, Alex. Thanks for using the site. This season we will hope to profile ‘Scarlette Belle’. The others were scarcely available in the USA. The one copy of ‘Amazing Belle’ that we obtained did not bloom true, which was disappointing. I hope we can have all three of your requests fulfilled next season!
Question, a bit off-topic, but I really need to know. I see in the photo of the cleaned up bulb that a basal plate of about half an inch thickness (? or maybe 3/8″?) has grown. It looks a little thick, proportionately.
I’ve been told that thick basal plates can stunt hips’ growth; that it blocks their uptake of nutrients. Is that indeed the case? I am in the process of repotting my collection now. Ran into one bulb – smaller than it should be – with at least 3/4″ basal plate. I trimmed that plate and dusted with cinnamon, and am letting it cure for a few days. I know the bulb will put out new roots eventually, and bloom again too; but at the same time I worry about the loss of living roots, even though I have received bulb shipments that have no living roots, and the bulbs have been solid.
This trimming is what I’ve been told is a good idea. Do you agree? What is the function of that plate, and is its becoming thick really an issue?
By way of contrast, I’ll just note that the thicker plates seem to occur, in my limited observation, on bulbs that aren’t making offsets. I haven’t seen them on those which seem to naturally want to produce offspring.
Or… is it something in cultural practices that pushes any bulb one way or the other?
I really want to understand this. Hope you can help me.
Joan,
There probably hasn’t been specific study on the physiology of this in Hippeastrum, but I’ll take a stab at it. Horticulturally, it has been demonstrated that trimming down an old, large basal plate can create much better root production, and improved plant vigor as a result. I do this regularly when repotting just as in the case you mention. It feels like you will be setting the plant back, but as you say, they are quite capable of recovery and regrowth.
The basal plate is the compressed stem of the plant. As the bulb grows, leaf bases (leaf scales or cataphylls) are left behind and slough off after serving as a tunic and the stem becomes longer, tougher and nearly woody. Root formation is likely encouraged by hormone production (auxins) from the active growing point. As the bottommost part of the basal plate becomes farther from the growing point and less conductive, it stops receiving these hormones and stops initiating new roots, and old ones die off. At this point, new roots are only able to sprout from the uppermost part near the bulb itself, and only from the outer edges. Removing the tough, older basal plate exposes tender, conductive tissue under the entire surface of the bulb, which can now root from any part of that surface in addition to the outer edges.
I don’t know how this works out for Hippeastrum in nature, but perhaps constant production of offsets means that the older mother bulbs simply get squeezed out in many cases. The complex amaryllis hybrids certainly grow more quickly and therefore this intervention is more likely to be needed for them to remain vigorous in cultivation. Genetic variation means that some hybrids seem to rarely require this intervention, where others do.
I hope this helps. Thanks for checking out Emaryllis.com!
Yay! Welcome back Emaryllis – I’ve missed your posts over the summer! Can we look forward to some more bulb/box kit reviews this season?
I’m having to forego the box kits this year as I can’t go out to the shops, but I’ve just ordered ‘Mont Blanc’ and ‘Orange Souvereign’ as loose bulbs from a mail order site. Be interesting to see if they end up flowering true to label, as the box kits hardly ever do.
Welcome back to you as well! I’m sorry you are being limited by the current situation. Mail order is a great way to get bulbs, and even box kits. I haven’t been overly adventourous either, but have tried to get as much as possible in far fewer trips than usual. Box Kits are definitely coming along, hopefully initial posts to go up next week. A few cutflower varieties will be added to broaden the site a bit more also. Thanks for following the site 🙂
If there isn’t already a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Amaryllis, there should be! These poor bulbs make me sad.
Right?! And now, to take it a step further, they are making hardware to hang them upside down as ornaments.
Noooooooo!!! Right, I’m off to found the SPCA now!
Any tips on obtaining rare hippe bulbs in the US ?
Good day!
I hope you are well.
I would just like to find out whether you can help me, if I would want to register a new Amaryllis hybrid, how does one go to work? I am from South Africa and I don’t know who to contact regarding this. Can you please advise?
Greetings Fredrich,
The international registrar for Hippeastrum (and many other bulbous plants) is KAVB in the Netherlands. They used to want some bulbs to grow on as part of the process, but I think that requirement may no longer be in force. Here is a page from their site with a link within to the registration form:
https://www.kavb.nl/english/registration
I have never bred anything that I felt was good enough for registration, so I am excited for you! Please keep us posted on your progress, I hope that your hybrid(s) can be featured here on Emaryllis.com some day!
Stay well through the pandemic.
Kindly,
Bill
hallo Fredrich
Hope you are well from where in south africa are you.Iam also from south africa,and love my cybisters.
Thanks! I have sometimes done a brief soak, but overnight would lead to soaking in water that is too cold for me.
Skyler, I hope everything turned out well. Normally they will just keep growing as long as daylight hours and temperatures are to their liking. Growing them in brighter light should help keep the leaves from being as long and floppy. Trimming back their length would be a better option than removing them entirely.
Thank you that was most fascinating. I wrote an article on Fed Meyer for the Melbourne Clivia Group. He was a most remarkable plant breeder.
Thanks for reading! I wish I could have met him for an interview as well. I didn’t know he also bred Clivia, but that should come as no surprise!
I picked up a boxed kit at Lidl yesterday for £2.79 – no labelled varieties but they come in a choice of pink, red or white. My white one proved to be a 27cm circumference bulb with no sign of disease or sprouting and some fat, healthy roots. It came with a sturdy grey plastic pot (with great drainage holes) and matching saucer and LOADS of coir. Obviously don’t know how it will flower yet, but compared to the £9.99 ‘de luxe’ boxed kits I’d seen earlier in the day at the local garden centre (small, shrivelled bulbs, suffering badly from scorch, with no roots and hardly any growing media), this is already looking like great value. And bearing in mind 50% of my garden centre named varieties didn’t flower true anyway last year, I think I’m sticking with Lidl’s unnamed bulbs this year!
Sounds like you picked up some nice bargains, Phil! It is very true that spending more on a bulb kit does not necessarily mean a better bulbs waits inside. Let us know how they turn out!
It’s grown really well – two scapes with beautiful big flowers…in red & white! So not the ‘white’ I was promised on the box, but very beautiful.
The ‘white’ amaryllis turned out red & white, which you have kindly identified as ‘Ambiance’. I guess Lidl were half right! Still a pretty flower though. And a good strong plant. If I can keep it free from scorch, I’ll rebloom it next year.
My ‘Half & Half’ from last year (which was supposed to be Christmas Star!) is flowering again and looking beautiful. I picked another ‘Christmas Star’ out of the garden centre’s bargain bin in January – be interesting to see what this one flowers as, but at £0.99, I’m not too bothered if it’s wrong!
Hello, My name is Elida .
I would like to know if sell amaryllis bulbs ?
I do not sell bulbs, I buy bulbs and then rate them for all to see!
Hi i just ask whats ID Name of this Red Amaryllis? thanks
Ooo, I’ve never seen Jewel before. I like it. It has understated elegance. And it is kind of like a daffodil with the center clump of petals. If I see one for sale, I think I’ll have to buy one, even though I’ve already narrowed down the purchase I plan to make for next year (leaning strongly towards Benfica because I want a dark red amaryllis with blossoms the size of my face this time around).
On April 27 & 28 at Apopka Art & Foliage Festival in Apopka, FL You can find information on planting & growing large flower hippeastrum bulbs in limb forks of large old Live Oak trees in both South & North FL. Ask Bill or June at the Amaryllis Spectacularis booth(15th year). You can use your own bulbs.
Amaryllis Study Group
Agreed! I think ‘Mambo’ (the most common sub the past several years) just dind’t perform as well under the same circumstances and I was happy to see it offered this season as a large sized bulb in the dry bulb trade, that way it can shine in its own right.
I’m impressed you got the variety that the box promised. So far, my box kit results this season have been one blooming true to what it claimed on the box, one blooming with a totally different variety and one not blooming at all…and my Queen of the Night which didn’t bloom last year has finally flowered…and is very definitely NOT the Queen!
Unfortunately, your experience is all too common. I hope that every once in a while it is a pleasant surprise that you find! Do you know what your NOT Queen of the Night has turned out to be?
Thanks for writing in from Germany, Tom. The trend seems to be gaining here as well. The ‘Olaf’ seen here is currently rooting into a new pot, and seems pretty healthy, so it will be grown on. I have very limited space, so must make decisions each season on what I can keep. First, I eliminate most of those with virus infection, then more common ones that I have several bulbs of. Some get donated to local gardens, as most of my friends would rather give me their amaryllis plants than receive any more from me! Happy growing to you as well Tom!
Agapanthe, To be honest I am not 100% sure that the species is correct. I have thought it might be H. miniatum, variegatum, fuscum and others in its related Peruvian group. It is what is sold in the U.S. as H. machupijchense, and that is what I am standing by for now. Thanks for your comment!
I was foiled again. I had the opportunity to purchase that same Jewel kit so I did. I even grabbed one already blooming, but I was in Such a rush that I failed to make sure it was ‘Jewel’! *facepalm*
‘White Nymph’ found her way to me after last year’s ‘Popov’ substitution. I am both irked and yet pleased with it. Can’t say she isn’t beautiful!
Rapido really does look gorgeous though.
Agreed!
I’m looking forward to this write up. 🙂
These kind of substitutes are kind of sad. This kind of marketing is misrepresentation of the merchandise. I don’t get how it is allowed?
I mean when I order plants from a place and they can’t fill what I wanted, I have the option of accepting a substitute instead, or waiting on backorder. At least I know what I’m getting when I get it and don’t have to wait 6-8 weeks to find out.
I really think that these bulb suppliers and companies should be more professional. The constant deceit is really offputting.
Sadly it is a problem throughout the bulb/root/rhizome industry. Since the per bulb cost is so high for amaryllises, it is that much more of a bummer.
Nice to know about Honeybee, it looks cute!
The prepotted bulbs I’ve seen this year all seem unhealthy. Granted, my purchases were bottom of the market at $5 each so I probably couldn’t expect much better. Scorch and thrips were my adversaries this season. I’ve treated my bulbs and so far no more issues.
What do you think could be ailing your Honeybee?
Hippeastrum mosaic virus is my first concern since there are some off-color streaks on the scapes. We’ll see what happens when the leaves grow out. This looks like it might need to be coddled more than most, but at least the color and dwarf nature of it are unique-so far!
Some are worth a bit of coddling for sure.
Were the scapes coming up when you bought it? Could be packing and handling damage. I hope it’s not mosaic virus. That would really suck. 🙁
That’s the kind of plant I love to have in my outdoor garden. No fuss type that thrives with little aytention. I’m too far north to plant hippys year round, but I did put mine out for the summer last year. They did good and are blooming for me inside. 🙂
That’s nice to know. ‘Opal Star’ does seem to be vigorous and healthy. I doubt it is hardy where I am, but you must be in a warmer zone.
The only reason the third dry bulb was the correct Apple was because the poor thing was blooming. A very sad, but fragrant performance. I wonder if the bulb will even recover.
I did purchase two kits, about 8 weeks apart, both were labeled Stargazer. The first one has bloomed…a very small solid red with a slight nod to the flower. I was very disappointed at first, but it’s a new variety to my collection. I think it’s Firecracker and it’s second scape is opening. The second kit is without a scape even nosing up yet, just a few leaves.
I have several more unknowns I’m waiting on, but all in all I can only count on being surprised.
Keep us up on the progress Rosie! ‘Firecracker’ would be an unlikely find as it has been out of production for a while as far as I know. Feel free to send a photo for ID to info(at)emaryllis.com
I will do my best!
You’re probably right about that. I will email photos to you once this 2nd scape blooms. Only days away from opening!
This exact same kit was available at my local nursery too. Alfresco and Dancing Queen were the other offerings next to Jewel. I’m wishing I could of gotten Jewel as I find her appealing and I’m all for the fragranced varieties.
Yes, those were the three offerings that I saw as well. There are so many nice double white amaryllis (‘Alfresco’ being one of them) that ‘Jewel’ may not be around much longer. I would snap one up next season if they are offered. There may be just enough of us to keep at least one grower producing her! Thanks for dropping by, and Happy New Year.
Happy New Year to you too. I’m so happy to see a new blog entry! This season has been wacky for me. I’m still batting 4/5 mislabeled bulbs! You’ll never guess what beauty I got while trying to acquire Apple Blossom though!
Happy New Year and thanks, Rosie! Yes, this looks like a normal season with lots of mislabels. What did you get in place of Apple Blossom? Was it a box kit or dry bulb you bought?
A dry bulb. Well, the first one I got came up a Telstar. Not even close right? But the next attempt is even more out there. I knew something was funny with its extremely vivid scapes and narrow folded leaves. Badum I got an Opal Star! I never thought I would get a variety like that here.
Hi Barbara,
Unfortunately I have had two orders refunded by Royal Colors this year. I’m not sure that any regulation has changed since other companies that import into North America haven’t been hindered this year. Most bulbs are sent to a company that imports (and has import permits), then distributes from within the U.S. Since RC ships into countries directly, the problem may be that they are circumventing the needed import permits to receive the bulbs from a foreign country. This is just a guess, but I hope the issue can be resolved as Royal Colors has been a great source for a unique variety of amaryllis cultivars.
That’s great, Barbara! Had you already been refunded? If so, I wonder if there are some stray boxes that may yet be delivered to those of us who had placed orders as well. Thanks for letting us know!
Oh, that is interesting. My orders (placed in May and September) were both refunded, so I hope the bulbs made it back home for someone else to grow. I imagine the U.S. is a significant market for RC, so they will undoubtedly make every effort to iron out any regulatory issues. Let us know how your bulbs prosper, and thanks for the update for all readers here in th USA.
Barbara, I just got one RC box today, also shipped Oct. 30. Mostly things are OK, but some had sprouted out and there were damages. The box looks like it was kicked around a lot during its journey!
Barbara, Royal Colors now has the U.S. listed in both their FAQ and in their dropdown menu in the shipping section of the order form. Good news, if late in the current season. Let’s hope for trouble free shipping next season! Ordering from Hadeco was a smooth process in my case; most of the bulbs were correctly labeled and it is the only way to get some of their newest creations.
Thanks, Andi for the praise in any forum in Poland! I hope you are happy with the fixes to the site and its improved functions. I hope we never face an issue with the galleries in the future, and thank you for voicing your concerns.
Hi Tony,
My apologies for the current situation. A solution is around the corner. Thank you for using the site, and I promise it will be up and running normally asap!
Charlene, Thanks for using the website, and my apologies for the gallery pages being down. At first the titles and descriptions went missing, and soon after the galleries became invisible. The Emaryllis website tech guru knows what the problem is, and will address it soon. These are the vagaries of an open source platform!
Cheryl, It looks like they have not been shipped to the U.S. this season, but should be available next season. Check the Hadeco My Amaryllis website next summer to see if that cultivar is available by direct order.
Hello!
Please change your picture for “Ambiance”
Kind regards
Haweha
Done!
‘Orange Sovereign’ is only used as a marketing name these days, the original cultivar was close to scarlet in color, and huge! You probably are looking at two bulbs of ‘Naranja’ which is one of the best orange flowered amaryllises in the trade today, along with its sibling ‘Tineke Verburg’. I am hoping that the ‘Orange Sovereign’ name will be used to market ‘Souvenir’ in the future, as it is also stupendous!
Is it common for a box kit amaryllis not to flower in the first year? I bought Queen of the Night (according to the label) at the beginning of December and it has produced loads of healthy leaves, but no sign of flowers. It has had the same treatment as my two amaryllis from last year which I started back into growth about the same time – one of those is flowering and the other has two well-developed scapes, but just leaves on my new one!
Phil, typically these bloom quite well, if not true to name. If the bulb is making only leaves, it was either “blind” beacause the flower initials aborted (this can be caused in many ways) or it was not cool conditioned. In the latter case, it may yet bloom, as spring is the normal flowering period for Hippeastrum. Don’t give up!
Thanks! If the flower initials aborted, does that mean it will never flower? Or is it worth keeping it till next year if it doesn’t flower in the spring?
They will bloom in the future. Most Hippeastrum hybrids make one bloom scape per three leaves. That is why I always look at the number of fleshy leaf bases on the top of a dormant bulb at purchase…more leaves = more flowers!
Yikes, Rosie! So many mislabeled bulbs have been reported this year, its disheartening. Older named varieties are so often substituted with robust growing newer types, and ‘Popov’ is a very strong grower.
Thanks for missing the blog posts, it has been a very busy year for the author, but I do apologize.
Thanks for the kind words Rosie! You may have an example of ‘Naranja’ for ‘Rilona’, or perhaps the smaller but very regular ‘Desire’. Both are excellent growers in high supply these days. I’m glad you like ‘Popov’, it is an excellent selection, and the scent is subtle but permeating.
It was very good of Amaryllis Bulb Company to offer the correct variety the following season. Let us know if this one blooms true to type! Thanks for letting others know about last season’s issue as well.
Emaryllis,
Do you usually keep the amaryllis you have photographed?
Very few, Rob. I keep a few for breeding stock and some of the varieties that I favor and are no longer sold. I have very limited space, so when a lot of new amaryllis varieties get released, I part with some of the others.
I see. Perhaps you can find a way to reintroduce those varieties that are no longer in circulation.
Ahh, if only I had the space to grow them all!
Perhaps you need to develop a network of Amaryllis foster homes to grow and reintroduce those varieties that are no longer in circulation.
Ahhh, if only Emaryllis didn’t have a very busy day job! It would be nice to develop an ark of sorts for the cultivars that often disappear just as they are introduced.
Hi! I’m a very great fan of this website and love them! greatful! Congratulations!
I love Amaryllis and have many of it!
Do you know where I can buy Hadeco Amaryllis bulbs in Europe? I wish to had a bulb of hadeco’s ‘Honeymoon’
As I was a child, there was hadeco bulbs in trade here. And I have had a ‘honeymoon’ since a long time in bloom in my children room.
I’m very affraid that my english isn’t so good. Please excuse me for that.
kindly regards,
Michael
Michael,
Your English is very good! Hadeco bulbs are becoming scarce here in the USA too, as one of the nurseries that carried many of their varieties stopped selling this year. Since Fluwel and Royal Colors also don’t sell Hadeco amaryllis, you are left with Amazon.com searches and more general holiday gift catalogs. Often Hadeco bulbs are sold for sale as potted, forced plants here, maybe in Europe too. Maybe someone from Hadeco will read this and offer advice! It looks like they are mainly selling ‘Miracle’ this year, but ‘Honeymoon’ is noted as a 2018 available variety. Good luck and thanks for using Emaryllis 🙂
Hello Calvin,
Emaryllis.com is just a hobbyist site, we do not sell any bulbs. Nice to hear from Hong Kong!
Take care,
Bill from Emaryllis
Mam Carmen do you still sell double amaryllis bulb? Thank you so much.
Thanks for all the good info. I am an amarylis enthusiast. I was plaged by a red fungus that wiped out my entire collection. I tried everything. Any advice.
IF
Patricia, First re-examine your cultural conditions, wet and cool are favorable to red blotch (Peyronellaea curtisii) and not amaryllises. Many physical injuries cause a reaction that turns leaves red, but if you are sure you have this fungus try spraying with a fungicide containing thiophanate-methyl as active ingredient. You may need several applications during the growing season. Repot in fresh media and remove the outermost dry bulb tunic to prevent re-infection from spores on those surfaces. Warmth, excellent air exchange and air circulation help prevent this difficult fungal pathogen from returning.
I’ve never heard of either. I know the term ‘flag’ can often refer to some irises though.
Rosie, I have seen amaryllis stall for no apparent reason fairly often. Once the daylight hours exceed 12 hours a day, they should all come into growth. Just remember that the stalled bulbs need minimal watering, and no fertilizer until actively growing. It’s so nice to hear that you are taking care of these “passalong” amaryllis bulbs 🙂
It sounds like you have done the right things, and they should grow much better in new soil. They are pretty tough!
Have you ever known an amaryllis to go dormant for 18 months? I bought a bulb that shipped to the states from Iran. It leafed out but did not bloom. Then it went dormant for a good 18 months. Now it has finally decided to leaf out again. The bulb is good and solid, the leaves look great. I just wonder why it went dormant for so long.
One year yes, but never 18 months! With a huge change in environments and bare-rooting we now know that they can wait that long. Thanks for sharing your information with the Emaryllis world 🙂
Christie, please share your results when it blooms!
Ahh, sorry Adelaida, Emaryllis is just here for informational purposes. Some of the varieties I have photographed over the years are commercially extinct. A few cultivars are only available for 1-2 seasons, while others like ‘Apple Blossom’ have been easy to purchase for many decades. The best selection is by way of mail order companies…which ones depends on where you live. Thanks for your interest!
Thanks, Barbara the confirmation is much appreciated!
I love the photo of the H. Thai Thai blooms that you got! Thanks for posting it in your gallery!! While it looks like just a few of these bulbs were in the mix, it definitely is just as promised.
Thanks a lot Kristi! Under brighter light there is even more rose coloration…it really is a gem.
So glad you find the site useful and fun!
Hello Brenda, just send them to info(at)emaryllis.com and I will have a go at naming names!
Hi.. I want to buy your amaryllis special double , please help me to buy your collection
Thanks for enjoying this so much that you want to purchase. Emaryllis.com is here for information purposes only, sorry that none of our amaryllis varieties are for sale. Probably Royal Colors in the Netherlands is your best bet, as they ship internationally.
Hey Bernie, the least expensive option is outfitting 48″ wide storage shelving with 48″ fluorescent light fixtures. Cool white bulbs do fine by amaryllises, just keep them close to the foliage, and at least four bulbs under each shelf. There are many more expensive options, LED lights are still pretty expensive, and sodium/halide lamps are bright, but use a lot of energy.
It sounds like you are doing great, and yes I do the same shuffling routine to try to get a succession of bloom under very limited space constraints! Let us know how you think the LED lights perform, I think there will be better versions with the ability to tune the light temperature so they don’t make your home look as though aliens have taken residence 😉
emaryllis – can you provide a timeline of when do you start withholding water and begin the programming process?
Also, if one lives in an apartment and has limited ability to provide the cool temperatures, is it better to withhold water later – in September perhaps or even later? Do you have any suggestions for the apartment dweller to find a cool spot?
I have begun withholding water now — mid August – and may have to just leave the pots on my windowsill as I can’t think of another place that might be cooler. But I am worried that I started too early.
Thanks, E!
Hmmmm Derya, it sounds like you have issues common to many an indoor gardener. I would continue to grow your amaryllis for at least another few weeks. August drying down is aimed at those looking for December blooms, a steep challenge in your case. Let the bulb keep gathering energy for now. In late September or early October try to force a dormancy by drying down. Dwindling daylight hours might already be slowing the plant to a crawl anyway. I take it you have no balcony to let it experience seasonal cooling. A windowsill may be the coolest area in your case, but the floor of a closet on an outside wall can do the trick. There may be a utility (furnace) room that vents outdoors and experiences something close to outdoor temperatures…in this case leave in that spot until freezing weather bears down.
In my climate, freezing conditions often hold off until late October or early November, so I can get at least a few weeks of the cool period accomplished under a covered porch. No matter what, amaryllis will likely still bloom next spring if they have made at least 4 leaves over the past summer; missing out on the cool programming just means leaves may emerge and become long (maybe needing support) before a flower scape emerges.
Thanks for bringing your question to team Emaryllis 😉
Thanks, E! I think the best place will be the windowsill. But will keep watering and feeding for now and stop in early october. The light is already changing up here and I have noticed a slight yellow in some of the leaves (even before I eased up on watering). I always buy one or two new bulbs anyway just so I have some flowers around the holidays and in January.
The varieties above are grown as cut flowers by vanderEnde; for pots are the stems too long. As garden amaryllis is it OK in the 8 – 10 USA climate zone. Royal Colors presents ecspecially for pots.
Some of us love the cut flower varieties, even if they are tall! For most people, potted varieties that are compact do work better of course. Thanks for stopping by Emaryllis.com 🙂
Update August 2016…Royal Colors has added one of these varieties (‘Sofia’) to their offerings. Still I say…more please!!
Thank you for the helpful comments
Judith
I raised amaryllis bulbs indoors for the first time this year and chose H.’Terra Cotta Star’. They are indeed gorgeous but the stems are weak. I have two bulbs. In both cases once the inflorescence emerged fully the stems toppled over at the junction with the bulb. If the breeder is out out there, could you work on that for the future please?
Thank you.
(author of “Visions of Loveliness:great flower breeders of the past”)
Greetings Ms. Taylor. Yes, the fact that many of these are naturally tall sees them perfectly suited to the cut-flower market, but less so to the lower light of the average home interior. There are more compact varieties that bloom on shorter, sturdier scapes. Hadeco of South Africa in particular focus on this trait. Dutch hybrids such as ‘Mambo’ and ‘Floris Hekker’ were selected specifically for pot culture as well. The “cybister” hybrids, owing to the lightness of their blooms offer a way to have the elegance of great height with less likelihood of toppling. Thank you for your comment!
I am looking for Amaryllis “Apricot Parfait”. Very difficult to find pne. Any help ???
‘Apricot Parfait’ was only offered by one firm (Dutch Grown) this year. We don’t see it on wholesale production lists anymore, so it may be down to one grower or out of production altogether. If we see it offered next season we may pick it up to see what we get.