Hippeastrum Lemon Cream - Amaryllis

Amaryllis 'Lemon Cream' is a variety of Hippeastrum that stands out for its uncommon colour: its red flower buds open into large, lemon cream-coloured flowers with red edges. The overall effect is both well contrasted and refined. The bulb produces one to two stems in succession, with flowering occurring over several weeks. Amaryllis plants are irreplaceable for bringing flowers into the house in the heart of winter.

Belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, Hippeastrum are native to South and Central America. They are cultivated in pots in our climates and bloom indoors around Christmas time.

At full bloom, the 'Lemon Cream' variety forms a clump 50 cm (20in) tall and 30 cm (12in) wide. The wide, flared funnel-shaped flowers measure up to 21 cm (8in) in diameter. Each flower is composed of 6 wide and thick petals, with a fine red and undulating border, iridescent in a very pale yellow. The flower's centre is green and releases a bouquet of long, curved stamens. 4 to 5 flowers proudly overhang one to two large and thick hollow stems. Positioned back to back, they form a unique composition. The leaves are deciduous, ribbon-like, and a shiny dark green. They turn yellow and dry out a few weeks after flowering, while the large bulb enters a dormant phase.

Planting an Amaryllis is a very rewarding experience.  Hippeastrum Lemon Cream is very easy to grow and its growth is extremely rapid; 6 to 10 weeks after planting, the flowers are already in bloom. You can enjoy them throughout the winter. To give it as a Christmas gift, consider planting it at the beginning of November. Preferably place it in the sun, in front of a window for example. Trim the stem when the flowers fade to promote floral regrowth.

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 Linne used this name to refer to it, as well as to Hippeastrum (are you still following?), there was an outcry and the battle raged on until 1987 when botanists decided: the Latin name Amaryllis is preserved for the African species Belladonna but should no longer be used as the Latin name for Hippeastrum.