Hippeastrum Apple Blossom - Amaryllis

Hippeastrum 'Apple Blossom' is an elegant and graceful amaryllis, despite the large size of its funnel-shaped flowers, which may resemble certain lilies. They are white, delicately washed and streaked with pink, enhanced by the thick and iridescent substance of the petals. Its bulb produces flower stalks carrying 3 to 4 spectacular flowers. They bloom a few weeks after planting in the warmth of the house. It is a lovely way to bring a little sweetness and a lot of elegance to your interior in the middle of winter!

Originating from subtropical regions of Central and South America, hippeastrum are frost-sensitive plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, generally cultivated in pots in our latitudes. The 'Apple Blossom' variety is a classic, awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England. In full bloom, the plant forms a clump 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) tall and 30cm (12in) wide. It bears rounded flowers, 20cm (8in) wide, composed of 6 thick and fleshy tepals, responsible for its longevity. From afar, their colour is a pale-pink, a pastel impression due to the presence of numerous veins and bright pink streaks on a white background. The heart of the flower is anise green, releasing a bouquet of long curved stamens, which are white with an anise green base. 3 to 4 flowers majestically tower over a large, thick hollow stalk that will soon be followed by two others. Positioned back-to-back and nestled against each other, they together form a unique composition. Amaryllis leaves are wide, ribbon-like, and medium green. They dry up and disappear when the plant goes into dormancy, a few weeks after flowering.

Planting an amaryllis is a very rewarding experience. Hippeastrum is very easy to grow and its growth is extremely rapid. The flowers bloom 6 to 10 weeks after planting. You can enjoy them throughout winter. Plant it at the beginning of November if you want to give it as a Christmas gift. The 'Apple Blossom' variety does not need companions to highlight its obvious beauty. You can plant some simple snowdrop bulbs at its base, just to dress up its slightly stiff stalks. Ideally, position it in the sun in front of a window, for example. Cut the stem when the flowers fade to promote floral regrowth.

The use of the word "amaryllis" is a misuse of language, directly related to an error made in the 18th century. It was Linnaeus himself who used it to name the American species. However, the name was already used for another beautiful flower from South Africa. Conventionally, the name amaryllis was kept for both. To distinguish them, the word "Hippeastrum" was added for the first one and "Belladona" for the second. It must be said that both deserve this name: amaryllis means "sparkling" and, in classical Greek literature, the plant was the subject of a pastoral poem where the beautiful shepherdess Amaryllis dies of a love that will only be accessible to her after a terrible wound. From her blood will emerge beautiful bunches of red flowers. Since then, the term has been synonymous with haughty beauty.

Tips: keep the pot in a well-lit place. Keep it warm if you want to speed up flowering, or in a cooler room at 10°C (50°F) to slow it down. Adding fertiliser is unnecessary before flowering, but necessary afterwards to replenish the bulb's reserves.

Our amaryllis bulbs are shipped in size 36+: the bulb's reserves are significant and provide exceptional flowering.