maryllis (Hippeastrum) is
a stunning bulbous plant.
In the flower industry,
it is sold as a winter
flowering houseplant and, from about
September to May, as a showstopper
fresh cut flower. e spectacular large
trumpet-shaped blooms have enchanted
people for centuries.
Hippeastrum breeding began in England in
1799, and by 1830, about 100 Hippeastrum
crosses had been made and given
scientific names. New hybrids were being
cultivated in the U.S. by the mid-1800s.
Today, the U.S. imports more than 10
million amaryllis bulbs every year, mostly
from Holland and South Africa. Although
most amaryllises come from these two
countries, bulbs are now being developed
and grown in the U.S., Japan, Israel, India,
ailand, Brazil, Peru and Australia.
GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Greek mythology brings us the story of
Amaryllis, a beautiful but shy maiden
who shed her own blood to prove her
true love to a handsome and strong but
cold-hearted shepherd named Alteo,
who loved only flowers. Alteo proclaimed
that he would fall in love only with a girl
who could bring to him a new type of
a flower that had never existed in the
world before. Amaryllis sought advice
from Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, who
instructed her that to win Alteo's heart,
she must sacrifice her blood for him,
so she went to Alteo's door for 30 nights,
each time piercing her heart with a
golden arrow. On the 30
th
night, when
Alteo finally opened his door, before
him was a striking crimson flower,
sprung from the blood of Amaryllis's
heart. e amaryllis flower is now a
representation of love, determination
and strength, its red color symbolizing
the sacrifice that Amaryllis was willing
to make to win Alteo's love.
Botanical/Scientific Name
Hippeastrum spp.
Common Names
Amaryllis, Barbados lily
Plant Family
Amaryllidaceae/Amaryllis
By Nita Robertson, AIFD, CFD
Amaryllis
IN SEASON:
A
Holland Bulb Farms
Milwaukee, Wis.
12
February | 2022
Feature
