Amaryllis

[Oliver Buckle]

Some years ago I germinated about 15 seeds from a standard red amaryllis, so when my pink striped one produced seed I thought I would give it a try. I put a lot of them in a tray and stuck it in the end of the propagator and they sat there for a couple of months, then a few days ago I got a seedling, now big enough to be sure it wasn't a stray grass seed. It will be interesting to see what the flower is like, but that will be a while.
When I got those first lot a decent size I had a friend come over triumphant that she had got her bulb to split and produce two plants, I took her in the greenhouse and showed her my 15 happy looking plants, "I hate you Olly Buckle"

 

[roadrunner]

When I moved back to this house after retirement from the Navy, I started cutting the grass and this plant was one of the first that caught my attention, along with the Wild Petunia.

It was the beginning of me deciding to do away with all my grass and allow the "Weeds" to take over. Apparently it's endangered in Florida, I guess a big part of that is from mowing.

The Native Florida Amaryllis - A Delicate Beauty! - Florida Nature Photography

The amaryllis family is a close relative of the lily family and because of this close genetic relationship they often use "lily" in their common names.

www.floridanaturephotography.com

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Interesting, firstly I hadn't realised they are not truly lilies, the common names given to them always seem to include the word. Secondly I know that at least some of them originate in South Africa, that there is a native North American variety is a surprise, I shall start looking more closely, they are something that I have been given on my birthday and at Christmas.
Looking at the container I used and remembering how I planted it it would seem I have one seed germinated out of about forty or fifty. Maybe I'll try some more and actually count the seeds. I put them in variously, some flat, some on edge, I don't know if one way is more likely to be successful than another?

 

[MiTmite9]

When I moved back to this house after retirement from the Navy, I started cutting the grass and this plant was one of the first that caught my attention, along with the Wild Petunia.

It was the beginning of me deciding to do away with all my grass and allow the "Weeds" to take over. Apparently it's endangered in Florida, I guess a big part of that is from mowing.

The Native Florida Amaryllis - A Delicate Beauty! - Florida Nature Photography

The amaryllis family is a close relative of the lily family and because of this close genetic relationship they often use "lily" in their common names.

www.floridanaturephotography.com

View attachment 114280



View attachment 114281

Awesome.

 

[MiTmite9]

Some years ago I germinated about 15 seeds from a standard red amaryllis, so when my pink striped one produced seed I thought I would give it a try. I put a lot of them in a tray and stuck it in the end of the propagator and they sat there for a couple of months, then a few days ago I got a seedling, now big enough to be sure it wasn't a stray grass seed. It will be interesting to see what the flower is like, but that will be a while.
When I got those first lot a decent size I had a friend come over triumphant that she had got her bulb to split and produce two plants, I took her in the greenhouse and showed her my 15 happy looking plants, "I hate you Olly Buckle"

It surprised me no end how much neglect is tolerated by Hippeastrum. Did you know that true Amaryllis are South African natives (Amaryllis belladonna)? "Amaryllis" is the common trade name for Hippeastrum.
I got an extremely pleasant surprise when a couple of my Hippeastrum bulbs (Craigslist find) FINALLY flowered this past winter. Lovely flowers. Took them about three years --- at least.

My other Hippeastrum sat VERY sadly neglected, in our dining room. For many years. It only bloomed a couple years. Then, as soon as I repotted it and moved it outside to the east porch (Santa Barbara, CA Plant Zone 10) ---- wow.

If the photos are in order: Stripey dark one is "Butterfly" Amaryllis and the other tangerine-colored one is "Apricot Parfait."

PS (Photos are not in any way enhanced.)