Hippeastrum Christmas Gift

The Amaryllis 'Christmas Gift', named Hippeastrum (Galaxy Group) 'Christmas Gift' by botanists, stands out with its very large pure white flowers with a green throat. Their slightly undulating petals open wide at the top of thick, perfectly straight stems. This variety flowers in the heart of winter, at a time of year when flowering plants are scarce indoors. Easy to grow in a pot, it decorates a table, a sideboard, or a windowsill. Its classic look suits both traditional Christmas decorations and contemporary interiors.

Sold under the name amaryllis, this plant actually belongs to the genus Hippeastrum and the Amaryllidaceae family. True Amaryllis form a different botanical genus, native to southern Africa. Hippeastrum species are derived from tropical and subtropical species of the American continent. 'Christmas Gift' belongs to the Galaxy Group, which brings together hybrids selected for their large, wide-open flowers. It is a bulbous perennial plant, but its sensitivity to cold means it must be grown indoors in our climates. Its large bulb, protected by brown tunics, contains the reserves needed for the initial development of the stems and flowers. After planting, one or two flower stems, hollow and leafless, emerge from the bulb. They reach 45 to 50 cm in height and each bears two to four flowers gathered at the top. The flowers measure 16 to 18 cm in diameter. Each is made up of six floral parts, called tepals, as the petals and sepals here look the same. The flowers do not all open at once, allowing the pot to remain in bloom for several weeks. The long green leaves, smooth and ribbon-like, appear during or after flowering. Their role is to replenish the bulb's reserves, and they should be kept until they naturally yellow. Flowering occurs six to eight weeks after potting in a room kept at around 18 to 20 °C. A higher temperature speeds up growth but can produce longer, less sturdy stems. As soon as the first flowers open, it is advisable to move the pot to a bright, cooler room.

The Amaryllis 'Christmas Gift' is grown indoors, placed on a table, a console, or furniture near a bright window. Its white colouring will be enhanced in a dark red, fir green, gold, or natural ceramic cachepot. For a fuller winter display, it can be paired with the Amaryllis 'Red Lion', with its deep red blooms, a pot of Paperwhite narcissus, white and highly fragrant, a Persian cyclamen in red or deep pink, or the Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen', which offers elegant green leaves marbled with cream. All these plants flower in winter in a bright, cool room. You can cut a stem when the first bud begins to open, then place it in a tall, stable vase.