Amaryllis belladonna
Amaryllis belladonna - Naked Lady.
Flowering brightly in autumn it is easily spotted in gardens, along fence lines, on banks and other dry places throughout New Zealand.
The most common is the normal pink flowering version representing the species. It naturalises well in open well drained spaces that are not shaded as bulbs need summer sun on them to ripen them ready to flower.
It was introduced into cultivation at the beginning of the 18 Century.
They get their name Naked Lady from the way they send up strong flowering stems from dormant exposed bulbs sitting just in the ground. These red coloured stems have a closed ‘bud’ and when it reaches about 500mm high it will open revealing a number of individual trumpet shaped pink flowers. The flowers last quite a long time and easily set large fleshy seeds.
Once finished flowering the bulbs will send up new long narrow leaves which die off in summer/autumn before new flower spikes protrude from around the bulbs and quickly grow and flower in about 10 days. Leave the bulbs undisturbed in the ground for regular flowering.
There are a number of forms and named cultivars around.
After flowering cut the dead heads off to stop them producing fleshy seed and to put their energy into forming a good strong bulb. If desired sow the seed and it germinates quickly.
Botanically Amaryllis is a small genus with just two species. A. belladonna is a native of the Western cape region of South Africa particularly the rocky south west area. The botanic name is often confused with Hippeastrum of which many lovely different coloured bulbs are sold as indoor plants.
Flowering brightly in autumn it is easily spotted in gardens, along fence lines, on banks and other dry places throughout New Zealand.
The most common is the normal pink flowering version representing the species. It naturalises well in open well drained spaces that are not shaded as bulbs need summer sun on them to ripen them ready to flower.
It was introduced into cultivation at the beginning of the 18 Century.
They get their name Naked Lady from the way they send up strong flowering stems from dormant exposed bulbs sitting just in the ground. These red coloured stems have a closed ‘bud’ and when it reaches about 500mm high it will open revealing a number of individual trumpet shaped pink flowers. The flowers last quite a long time and easily set large fleshy seeds.
Once finished flowering the bulbs will send up new long narrow leaves which die off in summer/autumn before new flower spikes protrude from around the bulbs and quickly grow and flower in about 10 days. Leave the bulbs undisturbed in the ground for regular flowering.
There are a number of forms and named cultivars around.
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Major’ is deep pink and taller than the type.
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Southern Cross’ best white form
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Multiflora alba’ much taller up to 900mm high with many white trumpets and yellow throats.
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Halthor’ Larger pure white flower with a less reflexed trumpet and a creamy throat.
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Multiflora Rsoea’ Cerese flower with a pale centre.
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Rosea Superba’ wine red flowers
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Mutablis Rosea’ Salmon rose flowers with a wide reflexed open flower.
- Amaryllis belladonna ‘Beacon’ Cerise coloured flower.
- Amaryllis belladonna var blanda Large white flowers
After flowering cut the dead heads off to stop them producing fleshy seed and to put their energy into forming a good strong bulb. If desired sow the seed and it germinates quickly.
Botanically Amaryllis is a small genus with just two species. A. belladonna is a native of the Western cape region of South Africa particularly the rocky south west area. The botanic name is often confused with Hippeastrum of which many lovely different coloured bulbs are sold as indoor plants.