Amaryllis
Hippeastrum hybridum
The popular indoor amaryllis is a bulb (genus Hippeastrum) that produces towering stalks topped with huge, trumpet-shaped flowers, often forced for winter bloom. True Amaryllis is a separate South African genus.
- Light
- Bright indirect to full sun
- Water
- Water moderately while growing; rest dry
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
The plant sold as "amaryllis" for indoor forcing is botanically a Hippeastrum, a large-flowered bulb from the Americas. The true genus Amaryllis (belladonna lily) is a separate South African plant.
Hippeastrum bulbs are popular holiday gifts, producing one or more thick stalks crowned with several enormous trumpet flowers in red, white, pink, or striped patterns just weeks after planting—an easy, dramatic indoor display.
How to identify it
Recognizable by a tall hollow stalk and very large trumpet flowers.
- Flowers: Huge, trumpet-shaped, 4-8 in wide, in clusters of 2-6 atop a stalk, in red, white, pink, salmon, or striped
- Stalk: Thick, hollow, leafless flower stem, 1-2 ft tall
- Leaves: Long, strappy, green, appearing with or after the flowers
- Bulb: Large, rounded, with papery brown skin
Care & growing
Amaryllis is easy to bloom from a bulb and can rebloom with a rest period.
- Light: Bright indirect light to some direct sun
- Water: Water sparingly until growth starts, then moderately; reduce as foliage dies back
- Soil: Well-draining potting mix, with the top third of the bulb above soil
- Temperature: Warm room temperatures for forcing
- Feeding: Feed during active leaf growth to recharge the bulb
- Reblooming: After flowering, grow the leaves, then give a dry, dark rest period of 8-10 weeks before restarting
- Propagation: From offset bulbs ("bulblets")
Habitat & origin
Hippeastrum species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, growing in warm woodlands and grasslands.
They are cultivated worldwide as potted flowering bulbs, especially forced indoors for winter and holiday bloom in cold climates, and grown in beds in frost-free regions.
Frequently asked questions
Is amaryllis the same as Hippeastrum?
The common indoor 'amaryllis' is actually Hippeastrum. True Amaryllis (belladonna lily) is a separate South African genus.
How do I get my amaryllis to rebloom?
After flowering, let the leaves grow and feed it, then give the bulb a dry, dark rest for 8-10 weeks before watering again to restart growth.
Why is my amaryllis all leaves and no flowers?
It likely did not get a proper dormant rest period or enough light to recharge the bulb.
Amaryllis guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Amaryllis.
Amaryllis identified by the community
Real specimens identified with Plant Identifier.
