Amaryllis

Amaryllis - Showy bulbous tropical plants, few of the species of which are hardy, though the beautiful Belladonna Lily (A. belladonna) may be grown well in the open air, and is, in fact, almost too free in some soils in Cornwall. It is a noble bulbous plant from the Cape of Good Hope, from one and a half to three feet high, blooming late in summer, the flowers, as large as the white Lily, and of delicate silvery rose in clusters on stout, leafless stems, arising from the large pear-shaped bulbs.

Amaryllis Care and Cultivation

To grow Amaryllis in inland and less favoured districts, choose a place on the south side of a house or wall, take out the whole of the soil to the depth of three feet, and place about six inches of broken brick in the bottom. Also See: Flowers

Over this put some half-rotten manure to keep the drainage open, and feed the plant. If the natural soil is not good, add some sandy mellow loam, or if stiff a few barrow-loads of leaf mould, and one or two of sharp sand mixed with it. Tread this firm.

Plant the bulbs in small groups, about one foot apart, and if the border is of such a width as to take a double row, the plants in the second should be alternate with those in the first. Place a handful or so of sharp sand round the bulbs to keep them from rotting.

If planted in autumn, or at any time during the winter, it would be best to protect them from severe weather by half-rotten leaves, coconut fibre, or fern. The plants begin to push forth their new leaves early in spring, and upon the freedom with which they send forth these during summer the bloom in the autumn depends. During dry weather give an occasional soaking of water, and with liquid manure once or twice. As soon as the foliage ripens off, remove it, and clean the border before the blooms begin to come through the soil. A. B. blanda is a variety with larger bulbs, bearing noble umbels of white flowers, turning to pale rose in summer, and there are other varieties.

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