Hippeastrum Grand Diva - Amaryllis

Amaryllis 'Grand Diva' is a new variety of Hippeastrum of great class, which perfectly lives up to its name of Diva. Its large, single funnel-shaped flowers stand out for their extremely silky texture, and their dark burgundy red colour that seems illuminated by a halo of plunging black light into the heart of a purple throat. This vigorous variety, destined for a bright future, will be perfect in winter bouquets, paired with fir green foliage or white flowers.

From the Amaryllidaceae family, Hippeastrum are native to South and Central America. They are grown in pots in our climate and bloom indoors around Christmas time. In full bloom, the 'Grand Diva' variety forms a clump 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) in height ,sometimes more, and 30 cm (12in) in width. The wide funnel-shaped flowers measure up to 20-25 cm (8-10in) in diameter. This immense flowering consists of 6 wide and thick petals, a very dark and shiny red. The heart of the flower is even darker, releasing a bouquet of long, curved stamens of the same tone. 4 to 6 flowers tower proudly above one or two large, thick hollow stems. Positioned back-to-back, they form a unique composition together. The leaves are deciduous, ribbon-like, and glossy dark green.

Planting an Amaryllis is a very rewarding experience. Hippeastrum is very easy to grow and its growth is extremely fast; 6 to 10 weeks after planting, the flowers are already blooming. You can enjoy them throughout the winter. To offer it as a Christmas gift, remember to plant it at the beginning of November. Preferably place it to the sun in front of a window, for example. Prune the stem when the flowers have withered to encourage new flowering.

Did you know? The Latin name 'Amaryllis' was the subject of heated discussions among botanists: originally, this name actually referred to another plant, similar in appearance and native to South Africa: Amaryllis belladonna. When Carl von Linnaeus used this name to designate it but also to designate Hippeastrum (are you still following?), there was an outcry and the battle raged until 1987 when botanists decided: the Latin name Amaryllis is preserved for the African species Belladona but should no longer be used as the Latin name for Hippeastrum.