Amaryllis Belladonna
( am - ar - RILL - iss bell - uh - DON - uh )
At-A-Glance Information
Also called Naked Lady, Jersey Lily and March Lily, this perennial flower grows from bulb and needs full sun. It does not need irrigation and is drought tolerant. Take care when planting this flower in your yard, as all parts are poisonous if ingested by humans or pets. 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. They grow best in zones 4-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Caring for Amaryllis belladonna
These beautiful flowers can be grown either in the ground or in containers, and are best when grown in an area with warm, dry summers and well-draining soil. Amend your planting area or potted soil mix with organic matter to improve drainage. They prefer to be planted in full sun, so choose an area in your yard or on your patio that gets this exposure, and plant in the middle of spring. They are best when planted massed together when in the landscape. In your garden, plant bulbs a foot apart with the pointed tip sitting just below the surface of the soil. In containers, plant bulbs about 7-8 inches apart with their pointed tips up just at the soil surface. In either the ground or in containers, water thoroughly after planting, and ensure that adequate drainage is occurring. These are very long-lived plants and will continue to bloom year after year if given the correct care. Normally, they do not need much supplemental water if they receive adequate rainfall, though you can provide about an inch of water per week during their growing and blooming periods, which is normally in spring, summer and early fall.
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; and feed with an all-purpose fertilizer or bulb fertilizer. The only ongoing care they really require is to be divided every few years when flowering begins to suffer due to overcrowding. The bulbs otherwise do not like to be disturbed, and they will not flower for a few years after division. Foliage that has begun to fade can be cut back to ground level; this usually happens in summertime before flowering stalks appear. Once flowers have faded, the stems can also be cut back to the ground. Withhold water at this point. During winter, if your area gets cold, wet winters, 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.
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; and feed with an all-purpose fertilizer or bulb fertilizer. The only ongoing care they really require is to be divided every few years when flowering begins to suffer due to overcrowding. The bulbs otherwise do not like to be disturbed, and they will not flower for a few years after division. Foliage that has begun to fade can be cut back to ground level; this usually happens in summertime before flowering stalks appear. Once flowers have faded, the stems can also be cut back to the ground. Withhold water at this point. During winter, if your area gets cold, wet winters, 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.
Propagation
The best ways to propagate Amaryllis belladonna is through division, or via seed. Reference the directions below to decide which method is best for you; the division method is best to use if you are dividing the plant for health reasons or if you are digging them up for storage indoors over winter. Seed propagation is a good method to choose if you are not wanting to disturb your current Amaryllis plants.
How to Propagate Jersey Lily Through 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 dig up your plant, unless you are doing it to overwinter indoors. After division, these lilies will probably not bloom for 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 belladonna by division, follow the instructions below:
How to Propagate Jersey Lily Through 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 handy-dandy Q-tip. The seeds of Amaryllis belladonna have a pearl sheen to them, and look a bit translucent. They form inside seed 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 these instructions. 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 belladonna as it grows), potting soil, organic matter, a pencil,
How to Propagate Jersey Lily Through 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 dig up your plant, unless you are doing it to overwinter indoors. After division, these lilies will probably not bloom for 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 belladonna 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 (see the picture below); separate the smaller bulbs from the side of your main bulb clump, and lay them out on the ground.
- The best time of the year to plant Amaryllis belladonna is in the middle of springtime, so you'll want to store your divisions indoor in a cool, dry, dark place over the winter months until after the last frost has passed. Place your divided bulbs in vermiculite or peat moss, and put the container in your designated storage spot.
- Once springtime rolls around again, bring your bulbs out and prepare your 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.
How to Propagate Jersey Lily Through 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 handy-dandy Q-tip. The seeds of Amaryllis belladonna have a pearl sheen to them, and look a bit translucent. They form inside seed 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 these instructions. 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 belladonna as it grows), potting soil, organic matter, a pencil,
- Once you've got 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 belladonna(s) 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, you can go ahead and plant your Amaryllis belladonna plants in an sunny area of your garden that has well-draining soil. If you'd like more information about how to plant these beautiful flowers, see the 'Caring for Amaryllis Belladonna' section above.
Problems and Pests
Amaryllis belladonna has few pests and diseases, though they are affected by the following issues.
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Glasshouse Red Spider Mites
Gallery
Videos
How to plant and grow Amaryllis belladonna.
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How to care for these beautiful flowers in your garden.
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Learn how to grow these plants from a Master Gardener.
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How to divide Amaryllis bulbs.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 149, Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Lady)
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