Amaryllis or Hippeastrum?

Photo by author

On the East Coast, the holidays are filled with ‘Amaryllis’ bulb kits to give as gifts or to decorate homes. The blossoms are fantastically large and showy in color, from the palest pink to deep scarlet. But did you know these magnificent blooms are not true Amaryllis flowers, but rather Hippeastrums? At first, I thought perhaps it was a marketing tactic, because Hippeastrum is an awkward word, while Amaryllis simply rolls off the tongue. However, the mistake is not a marketing ploy, but rather part of a long confusing history dating back to the plants ‘naming’ in the 1700s.

A Little History

It’s unclear whether the plant Linnaeus cataloged as Amaryllis was a true Amaryllis (Amaryllis belladonna) from South Africa or a Hippeastrum (Hippeastrum equestre) from South America. The plant scientists argued until finally in 1987 the International Botanical Congress decided that the flower being sold as Amaryllis all over the country was in actuality Hippeastrum. But the name Amaryllis has remained.

The Flowers

True Amaryllis—Amaryllis belladonna—is also known as the Jersey lily or belladonna lily. Its leaves do not appear until after the flower has bloomed. The flowers are not quite as big as the many Hippeastrum cultivars, but the colors are as intense. There is only one species of Amaryllis—Amaryllis belladonna—and it is native to South Africa. The plant stays dormant during the dry summers and blooms in autumn.

Meanwhile, Hippeastrums, native to South America, come in a variety of cultivars. Sources say that there are around 600 different Hippeastrum hybrids (all of which will most likely be mistakenly labeled as ‘Amaryllis’). Most Hippeastrums are unscented. The petals range from the slender, spiked tendrils of Hippeastrum ‘Evergreen” to the giant, crepe-paper-like petals of Hippeastrum ‘Ferrari’ or Hippeastrum ‘Minerva.’ Plants can be propagated by seed, bulblet, or by cutting. The seeds take a few years to mature enough for flowering. A faster way to start a new plant is to remove bulblets from the main bulb and plant them in their own containers. Or the main bulb can be cut vertically into four pieces and each piece planted separately to start its own new plant. There are many free tutorials available online that demonstrate how to cut the bulb. I’ve tried the bulblet method of propagation successfully, but the plants do not form bulblets every season.

Hippeastrum is a hardy bulb that brings a rainbow of colors to the winter months. I usually grow a few in water and a few in soil. If you want to observe how the plant grows, use a clear, glass bulb vase so you can watch the plant’s intricate root system develop. Filling windowsills with a few bulb types—Hippeastrum, crocus, hyacinth—can be a fun family activity. The flower pictured above is my late Gran’s. The plant spent a long time growing in its vase before it decided to bloom. In many ways the flower reminds me of her—a bit stubborn, spirited, and beautiful.

Note: Hippeastrum is poisonous to people and animals. Keep away from children and pets.