Hippeastrum 'Baby Star'

Most people are familiar with the bulbs commonly called Amaryllis because they're sold everywhere, often already potted for forcing, just before the winter holiday season. These bulbs are actually hybrids of Hippeastrum, a New World genus, while Amaryllis is a genus of related bulbs native to South Africa. Hippeastrum are great for forcing indoors for winter color, but many also grow well in the garden if the climate isn't too cold.

When grown in containers these bulbs are often planted high, with at least half of the bulb exposed. I don't know if this is the way these bulbs grow in the wild or if this practice was adopted just to allow more space for the roots, but the bulbs would freeze in a central North Carolina winter if planted this way. I bury them completely with about 4 inches of well-drained soil over their tops and in late autumn I refresh the mulch to provide extra protection from freezing. They seem happiest in the garden in part-shade, with too much shade they don't bloom, and with too much sun their foliage is much smaller and pale.

One of my best performers is Hippeastrum 'Baby Star', a compact red-flowered selection with a central white star and a green throat. It returns after every winter and blooms reliably every June.

Hippeastrum 'Baby Star'