Amaryllis - The Bell Flower of Christmas ....

Nov. 27, 2009 - PRLog -- Amaryllis flowers history is very fascinating. Presently the amaryllis flowers are usually associated with Holland mostly but the amaryllis flowers have not originated in that place.

Around 1828, a young doctor Uduard Frederich Poepping was hunting for plants in Chile. In this expedition, he spotted very vibrant blooms on a Chilean mountain. Beauty of Amaryllis flowers He was amused by their beauty and is said to have shouted with joy at the spectacular sight of the beautiful amaryllis flowers.

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The name amaryllis flowers are based on the name of Greek Mythology- Amaryllis is the name of a Greek Shepherdess. The amaryllis flowers later reached Europe where they were hybridized. The hybridizers from Holland experimented with the different varieties of the Amaryllis flowers and made the large-flowered amaryllis flowers that can be seen today.


Origin
The amaryllis is a native of South Africa.
Significance
The amaryllis is frequently used as a Christmas decoration.


The Facts

The amaryllis is a popular perennial flower classified in the Amaryllis genus. The large, bell-shaped flowers come in a spectrum of colors and color combinations. Striped and multi-colored varieties are as common as solid blooms. The ease at which the amaryllis is grown makes it an excellent addition to flower beds and containers.
The amaryllis is sometimes referred to as the Hippeastrum, which means "knight star". It is also called "'Naked Lady" and "Resurrection Lily.” Amaryllis, also known as belladonna lily, is a genus of bulbous flowering plants that can grow to three feet in height. They produce flowers that can be red, pink, white, or a combination of any two of these. Amaryllis blooms between the months of April and June, and is hardy enough to survive winter in most temperate climates

Amaryllis flowers can grow in December provided they have been chilled for many months. But this is true for only some varieties of the amaryllis flowers. Some of such varieties are the South African bulbs. When the bulbs are dug out and planted in pots, the amaryllis flowers appear in about one month. The South African bulbs are sold as Christmas amaryllis.


Amaryllis flowers:

Categories Amaryllis flowers are separated into five main categories.

The five categories are: Large flowered, small flowered, trumpets, double-flowered and cybister. Large flowered amaryllis flowers: Large-flowered are the most popular and widely grown. The large flowered amaryllis flowers are about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. The stems of these large amaryllis flowers also grow to about 2 feet tall.

When flowers appear, move to a place with less light to preserve flower color and length of bloom. Some large-flowered varieties grow so tall that they may require staking. You can also grow several bulbs together in a larger, but not deeper container. Miniature amaryllis are especially showy in this type of display.


After blooming, remove spent stalks several inches above the bulb top. Return pot to a sunny location to promote healthy leaves, which help supply food for next year’s flowers. If you want to keep them in pots, keep watering and fertilize monthly with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.


Some varieties are evergreen; others lose their leaves. Plants ultimately will revert to their normal bloom period of May and June. Amaryllis flowers also can be planted in a landscape here. For coastal gardens, select a sunny location. Inland, they do better with afternoon shade, which keeps flowers from fading.

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