Floral Friday ~ Amaryllis

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Floral Friday ~ Amaryllis

Amaryllis has tall, elegant stems with trumpet-like blooms.   No wonder they are a Christmas favorite! Here some things you might not know about amaryllis:

  • Amaryllis means to sparkle in Greek.
  • In nature, amaryllis bloom in spring or summer, but are commonly forced into early bloom for the holidays.
  • The U.S. imports more than 10 million amaryllis bulbs every year, mainly from Holland and South Africa.
  • Plant breeders have developed more than 600 named varieties!
  • Amaryllis reproduce by growing “daughter” bulbs next to the “mother” bulbs.
  • It takes three to five years for a daughter bulb to reach a marketable size.
  • You can grow amaryllis from seed, but it can take up to six years for them to reach maturity and produce flowers.
  • Amaryllis are tender perennials; most are hardy outdoors only in zones 9 to 11.
  • Properly cared for, an amaryllis plant can live for 75 years! CRAZY!
  • Amaryllis make dramatic and long-lasting cut flowers.  They are beautiful alone or en masse in a vase.
  • Unfortunately, the flowers, leaves and bulbs are poisonous not only to people but to dogs and cats. Keep these plants away from the inquisitive mouths of children and pets.