Hippeastrum Sweet Nymph - Amaryllis

Amaryllis or Hippeastrum 'Sweet Nymph' is a bulbous plant intended for indoor cultivation that offers beautiful double flowers of a very delicate pink, finely veined with a darker tone.

It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and originates from the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Hippeastrum is not at all hardy. Its outdoor cultivation is not possible in our climate, but we can grow it indoors where it will provide joyful blooms while the garden is still asleep.

'Sweet Nymph', with double flowers, blooms in two or three rows of petals. Its very delicate pink is adorned with a touch of aniseed green in the centre and is traversed by numerous dark pink to red veins. The harmonious result is full of freshness. The flower remains exotic, and it is a beautiful alternative (or companion) to orchids whose flowering is slightly capricious.

Amaryllis is a plant with a substantial bulb whose large and elegant flowers resemble those of lilies. The flowers are generally grouped in fours at the top of a strong main stem, 30 to 50cm (12 to 20in) high. The green foliage consists of long, narrow strips.

Its flowering occurs from December to April, 6 to 8 weeks after planting, depending on the ambient temperature. 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.

The Latin name "Amaryllis" was the subject of heated discussions among botanists: originally, this name 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 the Hippeastrum (are you still following?), there was an outcry and the battle raged on until 1987 when the botanists decided: the Latin name Amaryllis is retained for the African species Belladonna but should no longer be used as the Latin name for Hippeastrum.