Amaryllis

( am - ar - RILL - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Naked Lady, Jersey Lily and March Lily, this genus includes species of perennial flowers that grow from bulb and need full sun to perform well in the garden. These flowers are drought tolerant and native to South Africa this bulb produces strap-like leaves that form a clump about 1 foot high and 2 feet wide which die back by summertime. About six weeks later, stalks will rise 2-3 feet tall and produce a cluster of 4-12 fragrant trumpet-shaped, rose-colored flowers. Amaryllis is the type genus of the plant family Amaryllidaceae and includes two species, only one of which (Amaryllis belladonna) is commonly grown as a garden ornamental. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 6-10 or Sunset zones 4-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map. Take care when planting this flower in your yard, as all parts are poisonous if ingested by humans or pets.

Caring for Amaryllis

Amaryllis plants are typically purchased as bare roots from a reputable seller; they are purchased in mid-October through January, and should have with bright green new growth and no visible damage. The best time to plant bulbs is in autumn. Space bulbs between 6 and 12 inches apart in the garden for best coverage and airflow; these plants are commonly massed in the landscape for impressive shows of flowers in springtime. Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun; ideally, these flowers appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. These flowers do very well in light sandy or loamy soils. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Amaryllis is considered to be drought-tolerant, able to get by for much of the year on rainwater alone. Provide supplemental irrigation during extended periods of dry, hot weather.

These plants do not need to be fertilized unless their performance is declining. If you feel you need to add fertilizer, do so in early springtime. Fertilize with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Prune to remove already dead foliage; make sure to leave any green foliage on plants to send the most resources possible into the underground storage bulb for next season's blooms. Cut flowering stems back to the ground after blooms fade. If collecting seed for propagation, make sure to leave some stems alone to mature. Divide Naked Lady Lilies every few years; a good indicator that it is time to divide is plants will begin to perform poorly. These bulbs do not like to be disturbed, and will not flower for a few years after being divided. For instructions on how to successfully divide Amaryllis bulbs, see the Propagation section below. Amaryllis are dormant from mid-summer through the following spring, and will not need to be watered much during this period. During winter, if the area gets particularly cold and wet, dig up bulbs and store them in vermiculite or peat moss in a cool (around 55 degrees Fahrenheit), dark, dry place. In areas where the bulbs can stay in place over winter, provide mulch over the area, and check frequently for good drainage during rainy periods; bulbs do not like to sit in soggy soil.

Growing Amaryllis in Containers
Amaryllis, or Naked Lady Lilies, can be grown either in the ground or in containers. Container cultivation allows for growers in harsh climates to over-winter bulbs in a safe, dry, warm area during their dormancy. Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches wide and deep with adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to drain away. Amaryllis flowers like a light, sandy or loamy soil, and can also grow well in a potting mix amended with sand, perlite, and compost. Plant bulbs about 7-8 inches apart with their pointed tips up just at the soil surface. Apply a layer of mulch on top of the soil to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Amaryllis is considered to be drought-tolerant, able to get by for much of the year on rainwater alone. Provide supplemental irrigation during extended periods of dry, hot weather. In general, Amaryllis grown in containers will need more frequent waterings than their in-ground counterparts. Prune to remove already dead foliage; make sure to leave any green foliage on plants to send the most resources possible into the underground storage bulb for next season's blooms. Cut flowering stems back to the ground after blooms fade. Divide every few years for best health; for instructions on how to successfully divide Amaryllis bulbs, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

The best ways to propagate Amaryllis flowers is through division or seed. Division of bulbs will need to happen every few years for ongoing plant health. Propagation via seed requires seeds to mature on the plant. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Jersey Lily, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Amaryllis by Division
From time to time, your Jersey Lily will need to be divided (on average, every three to five years). Otherwise, it is not a good idea to disturb these flowers. After division, plants will most likely not bloom for about a year or two; they do not perform well when their bulbs are disturbed. To propagate your Jersey Lily via division, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw (optional), extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots. To propagate your Amaryllis by division, follow the instructions below:

In fall, identify the area of plants you're going to divide. Start by loosening the soil around the plant with your shovel, working your way inward to avoid causing damage to the bulbs. Once you've gotten your clump out of the ground, run water over it or simply shake it to remove excess dirt. Then, lay it out on its side.
If your bulb can be divided, it will have a markedly smaller bulb attached to the side; separate the smaller bulbs from the side of your main bulb clump, and lay all of them out on the ground.
The best time of the year to plant Amaryllis is in the middle of springtime, so divisions will need to be stored indoors in a cool, dry, dark place over the winter months until the following year after the last frost of springtime has passed. Place your divided bulbs in vermiculite or peat moss, and put the container in your designated storage spot.
Once springtime rolls around, bring bulbs out and prepare the planting area, whether it is a container or flower bed in the garden. They like well-draining soil, so it is a best practice to amend existing soil with organic matter before planting.

Propagating Amaryllis by Seed
The seeds on an Amaryllis plant mature in seed pods that are left behind after flowers fade. To harvest viable seeds, your Amaryllis will need to have been pollinated, either by insect or animal activity or with the help of a Q-tip. The fruits of Amaryllis have a pearly pink sheen to them, and look translucent. They form inside pods that will split open when the seeds are ready to be harvested. Wait until the seed pod exterior has dried and turned either yellow or brown, and has begun to split open. Once the opening is over a half inch wide, you can cut the seed pod off of the plant and bring it inside to finish opening in a dry place. The entire ripening process can take around four to six weeks. After you've gotten your seed pod indoors, follow the instructions below. To complete this process you'll need a container with a clear plastic lid or plastic bag, a paper towel, a spray bottle filled with water, a 4-inch deep pot (and more pots to size up your Amaryllis as it grows), potting soil, organic matter, and a pencil.

Once you've gotten your ripened seeds, remove them from the seed pod and place them in the container (filled almost all the way with water) or plastic bag with a damp paper towel laid inside.
If you are using the container method, place the seeds in the water, cover the top of the container loosely with the lid, and place the container in a warm, sunny area. If you are using the plastic bag method, place the seeds on top of the damp paper towel, and close the bag, leaving some air inside. Sometimes it helps to blow into the bag a little right before closing it. Place the plastic bag in a warm, sunny area.
Wait and watch your seeds for growth. Not all seeds will come to sprout, but you should end up with at least a few viable plantings from this process. Ensure that no mold is forming in your sprouting container, and that if you used the plastic bag method, your paper towel is remaining damp. Add water occasionally by dropping water onto the paper towel or spraying the inside of the bag with a spray bottle filled with water.
Once the sprouts have reached about 2 inches tall and have a 2-inch long root, they are ready to be transplanted. Prepare your 4-inch deep pot with potting soil amended with organic matter, and water it to ensure that adequate drainage is occurring. Make a hole (or holes, depending on how many seeds have sprouted). Then, plant your Amaryllis in the holes and pack the soil a little, just so that the seedlings are supported.
As your plants grow, move them into their own individual pots, and pot up as needed. In the middle of springtime, after ensuring that the last frost of the year has passed, install the Amaryllis bulbs in an sunny area of your garden that has well-draining soil or in a container.