Amarine Belladiva Anastasia - Belladonna Lily

The Amarine x tubergenii 'Belladiva Anastasia' is a surprising bulbous plant resulting from the hybridisation of Nerine bowdenii and Amaryllis belladona. Its long, deep pink autumn flowering resembles that of its two parents: its large star-shaped flowers are grouped in hemispherical umbels at the end of robust stems, as in Amaryllis, composed of petals wider than those of the nerine, but animated by beautiful undulations crossed by light, as in the latter. Its beautiful light green ribbon-like foliage, deciduous in summer, is present during flowering. Moderately hardy, it is grown in full sun and sheltered from the wind in very well-drained soil, even dry in summer. Still relatively uncommon in our gardens, this plant will surprise us both in a border and a large pot on the terrace.

Like its parents, the Amarine is a bulbous plant hardy up to -12°C (10.4°F) in well-drained soil, belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. It was obtained by hybridisation in the 1950s. This original plant, which honours its two parents by combining their qualities, has remained relatively rare until today. Its cultivation is no more complex than that of the Amaryllis belladonna. A large ovoid bulb emerges in September, giving rise to a clump of linear leaves, 1 to 2 cm (0 to 1in) wide, light green, which disappear in July-August. Green herbaceous stems, 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30in) tall, appear in September carrying at their tips a crown of 6 undulating and recurved petals arranged in a star. Their colour is an intense pink, well highlighted by a thick and slightly translucent texture. Large bright pink stamens protrude from the flower's heart, further accentuating its lightness. The flowering, quite long, extends until October.

This exceptionally ornamental plant is preferably grown in a large pot in cooler climates, where its hardiness may be lacking. This way, you will shelter it in winter and place it on a sunny terrace in summer. In the ground, it is advisable to choose a warm exposure, near a wall sheltered from the wind and very well-drained soil, growing conditions that would also be selected for agapanthus. Like the pink flowers of the latter, it is a plant that thrives by the sea, in an English cottage and even in a city garden, used as a focal point in an exotic or contemporary style. Cut and placed in a vase, the flowers will bring freshness and a lot of originality to the house.