True Amaryllis

True Amaryllis Overview

Amaryllis is a small genus of South African flowering perennial bulbs, containing just 2 species. They are grown for their large ornate white, pink or purple funnel-shaped flowers. A bulb produces 1-2 leafless stems averaging 30-60cm high, each bearing a cluster of 2-12 flowers 6-10cm wide. Their flowers and growth pattern resemble those of lilies but they are only distantly related to true lilies. There is confusion over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name Amaryllis is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum, these are often grown indoors. By contrast, the genus Amaryllis refers to bulbous species from South Africa, which are usually grown outdoors.