The plants commonly called amaryllis are actually members of the Hippeastrum genus, which consists of more than 50 species of bulbous, flowering plants. The true Amaryllis genus contains only one common garden plant, Amaryllis belladonna, commonly known as naked lady or belladonna lily.
Native to Africa, the genus Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, which means “to sparkle. They are prized for their exotic trumpet-shaped flowers born on 1- to 2-foot leafless stalks or scapes. They add dramatic color to homes and gardens and make wonderful gifts to gardeners from beginners to experts.
Amaryllis flowers range from 4 to 10 inches in size and can be either single or double in form. While the most popular colors are red and white, flowers may also be pink, salmon, apricot, rose or deep burgundy. Some varieties are bicolor such as purple and green, or picotee (having petals with a different edge color). Here are some of the popular amaryllis varieties:
- Aphrodite
- Chico
- Dancing Queen
- Double Record
- Emerald
- Ferrari
- Giant Amadeus
- LaPaz
- Amaryllis Apple Blossom
- Blossom Peacock
- Christmas Gift
- Brazza
- Christmas Gift
- Clown
- Minerva
- Nymph
- Quito
- Orange Souvereign
- Rio Negro
- Rilona
- Susan
- Sweet Nymph
- Butterfly
- Sumatra
- Spotlight
Amaryllis ‘Aphrodite’
Amaryllis, ‘Aphrodite’ is a graceful beauty with huge, white, double flowers delicately brushed with blush-pink on the petal tips and adorned with blood-red thin margins. Each flower is packed with 12-18 broad tepals and 3-10 petaloids. This double flowering Amaryllis with its audacious, sexy tropical-looking blossoms can help take the gray chill out of the dead of winter.
Amaryllis ‘Chico’
Amaryllis ‘Chico’ is a real beauty with its chocolate-brown and pale green spider-like flowers, adorned with incredibly long filaments. Sitting atop chestnut brown stalks, the wonderful shape and exquisite colors of the flowers arouse considerable attention. The exotic appeal, short scapes and lush glossy foliage make Chico a wonderful pot plant.
Amaryllis ‘Dancing Queen’
Amaryllis ‘Dancing Queen’ give a sensational look when in full bloom. This stunning beauty mesmerizes the viewer with extra large, luscious, frilly edged, double flowers, adorned with red and white stripes. The dramatic blossoms are packed with 12-14 tepals and several petaloid stamens.
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Amaryllis ‘Double Record’
Amaryllis ‘Double Record’ is a gorgeous beauty with large, white, double flowers, delicately brushed with raspberry-red around the edges and adorned with a bright lime-green throat lined with a ring of red dots. Each long-lasting, frilly edged blossom is packed with 8-16 tepals and 2-4 petaloids.
Amaryllis ‘Emerald’
Amaryllis ‘Emerald’ is particularly graceful-looking with its thin, elegantly reflexed, spidery white petals adorned with soft green and myriads of vermilion red dots. The exquisite blossoms, do not fail to bring cheer during the dark winter months. The slender, pale green scapes and long-lasting blooms make ‘Emerald’ a wonderful cut flower.
Amaryllis ‘Ferrari’
This stunning amaryllis variety boasts huge velvety blooms in the same shade of brilliant red as the world-famous sports car. It looks amazing with its large, voluptuous, velvety, rich red flowers, up to 7 in. across (17 cm), adorned with a lovely sheen. Ferrari is a great choice for holiday arrangements as it blooms quickly in 5-6 weeks when kept warm.
Amaryllis ‘Giant Amadeus’
Giant Amadeus Double Blooming Amaryllis have huge dazzling white flowers with rose-red stripes and veins and pale green throats. These flowers are larger than typical Amaryllis blooms, reaching up to 10” across on sturdy stems that can grow up to two feet.They look wonderful when planted with white- or red-blooming Amaryllis bulbs, offering striking contrast.
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Amaryllis ‘LaPaz’
Amaryllis ‘LaPaz’ is truly graceful and eye-catching with spidery, frilly edged, cherry-red upper petals contrasting with its pale lime-green lower petals. Floriferous, with tall, stout scapes and long-lasting blooms, it makes wonderful cut flowers. Easy to grow in pots or in the garden, it can even take some mild frost on the leaves in winter.
Amaryllis ‘Apple Blossom’
Introduced in 1954, this large flowering Amaryllis is one of the most popular pink Amaryllis. Amaryllis Apple Blossom is characterized with large, funnel-shaped, white flowers, delicately brushed with soft pink. Long-lasting, they are adorned with an extensive bright green throat lined with a ring of red dots.
Amaryllis ‘Blossom Peacock’
A magnificent double flowering Amaryllis noted for the exquisitely proportioned and perfectly sculptured blooms. Slightly fragrant, Amaryllis ‘Blossom Peacock’ features large, white, fully double flowers, up to 7 in. across (17 cm), delicately touched with rosy-pink along the edges. The pretty blossoms are packed with 15-18 tepals and up to 2 petaloid stamens.
Amaryllis ‘Brazza’
Amaryllis ‘Brazza’ is a bold variety with large, raspberry-pink flowers adorned with a darker throat.The soft and delicate color of this Amaryllis makes it a popular choice. This long-lasting flower, is effective in bringing glamour and texture, to any indoor settings. Easy to grow in pots or in the garden, it can even take some mild frost on the leaves in winter.
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Butterfly Amaryllis
Butterfly Amaryllis is truly fascinating with its large, elegant flowers, that feature remarkable coloring. Resembling a butterfly with its gracefully pointed petals and long stamens, each breathtaking flower boasts pale cream petals with a chartreuse throat, all delicately striped with burgundy as if hand-painted. The flowers rise well above the foliage of long, strap-shaped, fleshy leaves. Robust, this semi-evergreen species may flower twice a year, in spring and fall, and will also come back year after year.
Amaryllis ‘Christmas Gift’
Amaryllis ‘Christmas Gift’ is a stunning beauty with large, long-lasting, slightly ruffled, creamy-white flowers, adorned with a vivid green throat. This long-lasting flower, will succeed in bringing their glamour and help take the gray chill out of the dead of winter. Easy to grow in pots or in the garden, it can even take some mild frost on the leaves in winter.
Amaryllis ‘Clown’
Amaryllis ‘Clown’ is a real knockout with its large, white flowers, adorned with broad mandarin-red stripes. Reminiscent of candy canes, this robust and dramatic large-flowering Amaryllis adds a splash of cheerful color indoors over winter.
Amaryllis ‘Minerva’
One of the most eye-catching Amaryllis, ‘Minerva’ is an interesting beauty with large, wide open, flat-faced, red flowers, up to 7 in. across (18 cm), delicately adorned with a white star and a lime-green throat. This striking Amaryllis remains one of the most popular striped hybrids.
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Amaryllis ‘Nymph’
Amaryllis ‘Nymph’ is a voluptuous beauty with extra large, glistening white, double flowers, up to 10 in. across (25 cm), resembling peonies and delicately brushed with soft pink stripes! A magnificent, double flowering Amaryllis, packed with up to 14 tepals and several petaloids, that makes wonderful cut flowers.
Amaryllis ‘Orange Souvereign’
Amaryllis ‘Orange Souvereign’ is an exceptional variety with large, frilly edged, brilliant orange flowers. The long-lasting, the well-proportioned, exquisitely veined blossoms are enhanced by the bright green leathery foliage and never fail to attract attention. A large flowering Amaryllis that is very popular, reliable and regarded by many as the finest, large, deep orange hybrid.
Amaryllis ‘Quito’
Amaryllis ‘Quito’ is truly graceful and eye-catching with spidery, frilly edged, cherry-red upper petals contrasting with its pale green and vanilla lower petals. Floriferous, with tall, stout scapes and long-lasting blooms, it makes wonderful cut flowers.
Amaryllis ‘Rio Negro’
Resembling the exotic Butterfly Amaryllis. Amaryllis ‘Rio Negro’ is truly graceful and eye-catching with abundant, spider-like flowers presenting bright green midribs and elegantly dark red veined petals.The blossoms rise on dark purple stems, another unusual and interesting trait.
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Amaryllis ‘Rilona’
Amaryllis ‘Rilona’ (Hippeastrum) is an exceptional variety with large, apricot-salmon flowers, adorned with frilly edges and a pale brown throat. The unusual but ravishing color of this Amaryllis and its particular tall scapes make it a popular cut flower.
Amaryllis ‘Susan’
Amaryllis ‘Susan’ is a ravishing variety with large, flat-faced flowers, brushed with pale rose-pink and adorned with a bright lime-green throat lined with a ring of red dots. The broad, rounded and overlapping petals display a lovely netted pattern.
Amaryllis ‘Sweet Nymph’
With its peony-shaped blooms, Amaryllis ‘Sweet Nymph’ (Hippeastrum) will surely draw the attention of all with its watermelon-pink flowers adorned with darker veining and white highlights. Borne in clusters of three or four, they sit with majesty atop a stout leafless stalk.
Amaryllis ‘Sumatra’
Amaryllis ‘Sumatra’ is truly graceful and eye-catching with salmon-pink to deep orange, spidery petals contrasting with the elongated, white stamens. Floriferous, with stout scapes and long-lasting blooms, it makes wonderful cut flowers.
Amaryllis ‘Spotlight’
Amaryllis ‘Spotlight’ is a graceful beauty with large, star-shaped, white flowers, delicately brushed with blush-pink on the petal tips and adorned with blood-red thin margins. Easy to grow in pots or in the garden, it can even take some mild frost on the leaves in winter.
Further References
- Facts About Amaryllis: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis
- Growing and Caring For Amaryllis: https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/amaryllis
- Amaryllis Varieties and Care: https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/amaryllis-care/5410.html