Amaryllis and Hippeastrum are important ornamental bulbous plants. Both belong to the family Amaryllidaceae. Amarillis is a very common bulb for both plains and hills, whereas, Hippeastrums with their large beautiful flowers in colours of white, blood-red and crimson bloom during the summer months.

They both can be grown in beds, borders and pots and are important flower for cutting. This article gives a detailed information regarding the cultivation of Amaryllis and Hippeastrum.

Amaryllis is closely related to Hippeastrum and is commonly known as belladona lily. The word amaryllis was derived from Greek amarysso meaning to sparkle or twinkle. All the species of wild amaryllis are natives of tropical and subtropical America, mostly to Mexico and West Indies, Southward to Chile and Argentina.

Only the species Hippeastrum, known as Royal Dutch Amaryllis is also called Trumpet lily or Night Star lily. Plants of both the genera are successfully grown in plains as well as in the hilly areas.

Amaryllis and Hippeastrum are important bulbous flowering plants. These spectacular flowers have various shades of bright colour, and wide range of variation exists in cultivars developed by hybridization. They are suitable for planting in pot, greenhouse, window garden, bed, rockery, shrubbery and also in landscaping. They are also popular as cut-flowers because of their large size, attractive colour and good keeping quality.

II. Soil for Amaryllis
Amaryllis and Hippeastrum prefer rich sandy loam or loamy soil with proper drainage and plenty of moisture. The soil pH should range between 6.1 and 7,0. They may also be grown in soils having pH from 6.1 to 7.8.


III. Climate for Amaryllis
Both Amaryllis and Hippeastrum can be grown under wide environment conditions ranging from tropical to sub-tropical temperature climate. Under extreme conditions, however, the bulbs are lifted from soil and stored. Plants require sufficient light for proper growth and flowering. In temperate regions, they are grown under the protection of glass, while in subtropical and tropical regions they produce fine blooms in the open.



Next : Morphology and Classification of Amaryllis