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.