Hippeastrum: choosing and growing the best Hippeastrum

By Katie Beale

Published: Saturday, 01 January 2022 at 12:00 am

What Large-flowered bulbs, commonly grown indoors in the UK and often known as amaryllis. Origins Tropical and subtropical regions of South America. Season Flowering in winter and spring. Size 40-60cm tall but can be taller in poor light. Conditions Frost free but good light, ideally 15-21oC. Hardiness RHS H2, USDA 8a-10b.

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Hippeastrum ‘Christmas Gift’ There is no doubting the intended market for this cultivar. Like most amaryllis, they are treated to bloom early in the year and the large flowers, typical of the Galaxy Group, are pure glistening white with a green throat. 60cm.
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Hippeastrum ‘Evergreen’ Its narrow, flaring petals are lime green, becoming darker towards the centre of the flower, from where the green stamens protrude. It belongs to the Spider Group and must be one of the most subtle and stylish amaryllis. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H2.
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Hippeastrum ‘Mont Blanc’ This is one of the older Dutch cultivars, first registered in 1962 but is still widely available and a popular choice in the Galaxy Group. The large, creamy-white flowers have a green throat. 60cm.
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Hippeastrum ‘Lagoon’ The huge, rich-pink flowers with wide petals make this amaryllis really stand out. Often producing two stems, this cultivar has all the characteristics expected from the Galaxy Group. 60cm. AGM. RHS H2.
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Hippeastrum ‘Exotic Star’ One of the Butterfly Group, its maroon-red markings over creamy-green petals resemble those on the flowers of the butterfly amaryllis, Hippeastrum papilio, which has undoubtedly influenced the breeding of this cultivar. It often produces two or three stems per bulb. 60cm.
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Hippeastrum ‘Clown’ Another large-flowered form in the Galaxy Group, this has been a popular choice for many years. Sometimes called the candy cane amaryllis due to the pale, red-and- white striped flowers. 60cm. AGM. RHS H2.
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Hippeastrum ‘Bogota’ The slender, slightly recurved petals are typical of the Spider Group of cultivars. The bright scarlet to coral red flowers are flushed with green on the reverse and each bloom is around 12cm across. 50cm.
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ippeastrum ‘Snow White’ A double-flowered amaryllis with multiple petals and heavy blooms. The stems will need staking to take the flowers’ weight but there’s no denying this is one of the most voluptuous cultivars around. 60cm.
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Hippeastrum ‘Red Lion’ With its extremely large, rich-red flowers, this hippeastrum from the Galaxy Group is a real show stopper. The largest bulbs can produce three or sometimes four stems, each with four or five blooms. 60cm.AGM.
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Hippeastrum ‘Barbados’ Originally bred for the cut-flower trade, the deep-red flowers with a white cross in the centre are the perfect colours for a Christmas bouquet. This striking, large- flowered form is in the Galaxy Group. 60cm.
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Hippeastrum Tierra. A newcomer that is often sold under the name ‘Terra Mystica’, this Diamond Group amaryllis has distinctive terracotta- pink flowers, with a dark- purple throat and the finest of white edges to the petals. 50cm.
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Hippeastrum ‘Picotee’ With its pure-white petals delicately edged with a thin, red line, this elegant cultivar is one of the more sophisticated of the larger- flowered cultivars. It is one of the Diamond Group, which display flowers up to 16cm across. 60cm. AGM*. RHS H2, USDA 8a-11†.
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Hippeastrum ‘Lemon Lime’ Belonging to the Diamond Group, which has slightly smaller flowers than the Galaxy Group, but the pale-green blooms can be used in combination with white-flowered amaryllis, to create a cool- coloured display. 50cm.
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Hippeastrum papilio The butterfly amaryllis grows wild in southern Brazil. The intricately marked petals are wide but elegantly pointed. It often grows several stems per bulb and is shorter than most cultivars. This is a semi-evergreen plant that may flower twice in one year. 45cm. RHS H2.

About Hippeastrum

Winter-flowering bulbs are a treat, from delicate snowdrops pushing through the ground in gardens to fragrant hyacinths brightening windowsills. On cold, dark days, any flowers should be savoured but none are quite as bold as the hippeastrums. Their sturdy, leafless stems hoist blaring trumpets of rich colour more than half a metre in height. They are giants among winter-flowering bulbs. The brightest blooms are too garish for some but among the array of different forms are more subdued tones that can even display a touch of elegance.

Easy to package and simple to coax into flower, hippeastrum bulbs make popular gifts. Most people will have received one at some time, maybe for Christmas because they can be forced to bloom early. But what happened to the bulb afterwards? In many cases it was probably consigned to the compost bin or left in a neglected corner to fend for itself. However, those who managed to keep the bulb frost free, may have found that it flowered again but this time in spring or even early summer. This is the plant reverting to its normal behaviour, showing signs of its origins. These showy plants have come from species that grow wild in the tropics and subtropics of South America.

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Hippeastrum ‘Lagoon’ 

They are often called amaryllis, an old name that now only applies to a small genus of South African bulbs, best known for the hardy, autumn- flowering Jersey lily, Amaryllis belladonna. But the common name has stuck for these giants, now classified in the genus Hippeastrum. There are about 100 species of these mostly tender or half-hardy plants but the large, extravagant hippeastrums you can buy now are the result of over 220 years of breeding.

Origins

The first recorded hybrid in cultivation was Hippeastrum x johnsonii, which was made in England in 1799 (although not named until 1837) by crossing Hippeastrum vittatum and Hippeastrum reginae. As more species arrived in Europe throughout the 19th century, new hybrids were made by crossing species with existing hybrids or by crossing hybrids with hybrids, all of which makes their parentage difficult to decipher. The emphasis was on producing larger, more open flowers or more stems per bulb. Distinct hybrid strains were developed based on the influence of different species. Today, hippeastrums are still grouped according to the flower type.

The main centre for commercial Hippeastrum breeding is the Netherlands, with other centres around the world, including South Africa, Brazil, Japan and the warmer states of the USA, such as Florida. There is still an emphasis on bigger, brighter flowers and some of the most popular belong to the Galaxy Group. These have flowers at least 16cm across, often wider, and they include many vibrant colours, such as the magenta-pink of Hippeastrum ‘Lagoon’, striped, red-and- cream Hippeastrum ‘Clown’ and deep-red Hippeastrum ‘Black Pearl’.

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Hippeastrum ‘Snow White’

Not all hippeastrums are so vivid. There are whites of course, such as Hippeastrum ‘Christmas Gift’ and the beautiful Hippeastrum ‘Picotee’, which has white petals edged with a fine red line. More unusual is the subtle but refreshing hue of Hippeastrum ‘Lemon Lime’, with soft, yellowish green blooms. But it is in the Spider Group, bred from Hippeastrum cybister, where we find some of the most elegant forms. These have narrow petals giving the flowers a more modest appearance and a touch of sophistication. Hippeastrum ‘Bogota’ has red flowers but the bright colour is muted by the flush of green on the backs of the petals. Even more restrained is Hippeastrum ‘Evergreen’, its modest-coloured blooms risk being overlooked but when you notice them, you’ll be entranced.

There are few species available to buy but the one that is most easily obtained in the UK is the Brazilian species Hippeastrum papilio, more commonly known as the butterfly amaryllis. The pointed petals are creamy green with delicate markings of burgundy. Stunning in its own way and a reminder that nature often knows best.

Cultivation

Newly purchased bulbs of Hippeastrum are easy to flower. They are ready to go when they arrive and all you need to do is pot them up and water them. Hardy species that can be grown in the garden, such as Hippeastrum bifidum, have now been moved to the genus Zephyranthes and most of the remaining species need frost-free conditions. They’ll need good light, especially in the short days of winter, and some warmth, ideally about 21oC, so a windowsill is perfect. The pot only needs to be a little larger than the bulb itself and the top two thirds of the bulb should be left exposed above the soil. Water sparingly at first but when the leaves start to grow, increase watering. They do not want to dry out at this stage. They should flower six to eight weeks after potting. Turn the pot regularly as the flower stem grows, to prevent it bending towards the light.

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Hippeastrum ‘papilio’

It is after they have flowered that many Hippeastrum bulbs are disposed of, which is a shame as keeping them going requires only a little effort. Continued watering through spring and summer will keep the strap-like leaves green and healthy, providing food for the bulb. Be careful not to overwater but don’t let them dry out either. Balanced fertiliser applied a couple of times a month will be even more beneficial and increase the chances of the bulb having the energy to flower again. They can be left outside for the summer but avoid a position in bright sunlight. In late summer, watering should be reduced and then stopped so the soil dries out. The leaves will die back and once brown they can be cut off at the tip of the bulb. Keep the bulb dry and cool but frost- free, for two or three months. Then pot them up again and recommence careful watering to start them into growth. You can delay flowering by keeping the bulbs cool and dry until early spring. They can then be brought into growth when the days are longer, and the extra light will help keep the plants sturdier and the stem is less likely to become too elongated.

Just getting the bulb to flower again may be satisfaction enough but if you want to increase your stock then try propagating them. Hippeastrums can be grown from seed but it might take over six years to reach flowering size. When they do flower it is unlikely that they will match the parent plant as these are complex hybrids. An easier way to propagate the bulbs is from offsets. It will be obvious because an extra set of leaves will appear. In the winter, carefully pull the offset from the main bulb and pot it up separately. They can flower in three or four years.

*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Hardiness ratings given0 62 where available.

14 of the best Hippeastrums for your garden

Hippeastrum ‘Evergreen’

"Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum ‘Evergreen’

Its narrow, flaring petals are lime green, becoming darker towards the centre of the flower, from where the green stamens protrude. It belongs to the Spider Group and must be one of the most subtle and stylish amaryllis. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H2.