Hippeastrum Evergreen - Amaryllis

Amaryllis Evergreen is a variety of Hippeastrum unique in the colour and shape of its flowers. Made up of slender petals, they combine several shades of green, offering a beautiful gradient from bright apple green to lime green, from the throat of the flower to the tip of the petals. The plant, quite short, produces several stems per bulb and at least 6 flowers at the top of each stem. Original as well as delicate, with a great freshness, its flowers are easy to match: they will temper those of red-flowered varieties and form a very nice combination with pink or white amaryllis.

Originally from subtropical regions of Central and South America, Hippeastrum are frost-sensitive plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, generally grown in pots in our climates. 'Evergreen' is part of a series of recent hybrids called 'Cybister', derived from the species Sprekelia cybister (synonyms Hippeastrum cybister, H. deflexum). This ancestor, characterised by its slender lily-like flowers with thin petals, is native to the Bolivian Andes and the high mountains of northern Argentina. It is found there among cacti, in a semi-desert landscape where it only rains for 3 months of the year. It is a plant with a very short life cycle, which grows and flowers in 3 months in nature, during the rainy season, before going into a dry rest in the soil. 'Evergreen' has been awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK.

In full bloom, the 'Evergreen' variety forms a clump of 50 cm (20in) in height and 30 cm (12in) in width. It has star-shaped flowers, composed of 6 slender petals. Each petal, very thin and in a green gradient, is also traversed by veins of a darker green. The heart of the flower, green 'Granny Smith' in colour, has a cluster of long lime green to white stamens, gracefully curved downward. Each bulb produces one to three thick and hollow flower stalks, and each stem carries 6 to 7 green flowers, about 14 cm (6in) in diameter. Positioned back to back, the flowers together form a unique composition. The leaves are deciduous after flowering, ribbon-like, 2.5 to 3cm (1in) wide, and shiny dark green.

Planting an Amaryllis is very rewarding. Hippeastrum is very easy to grow and its growth is extremely fast; 6 to 10 weeks after planting, the flowers are already blooming. You can enjoy them throughout the winter. To offer them for Christmas, remember to plant them at the beginning of November. The 'Evergreen' variety pairs well with the 'Amputo' Amaryllis, virginal and pure white, or with forced narcissi 'Paperwhite' or 'Erlicheer'. The small white bells of snowdrops can also adorn its base like stars. Preferably place it in the sun in front of a window, for example. Trim the stem when the flowers have faded to promote floral regrowth.

Did you know, the Latin name "Amaryllis" was the subject of heated discussions among botanists?  Originally, this name actually referred to another plant, similar in appearance and native to South Africa: Amaryllis belladonna. When Carl von Linne used this name to designate it but also to designate Hippeastrum (are you still following?), there was an uproar and the battle raged until 1987 when the botanists decided: the Latin name Amaryllis is preserved for the African species Belladona but should no longer be used as the Latin name for Hippeastrum.

With a size of 36+, the bulb's reserve is significant and provides exceptional flowering.