Hippeastrum Terra Cotta

Amaryllis Terra Cotta, also known as Hippeastrum, is a magnificent bulbous plant with a single flower in reddish-orange terracotta colour elegantly veined in brick red.

Originally from subtropical regions of Central and South America, Amaryllis or Hippeastrum are generally grown in pots as they are sensitive to cold temperatures in our latitudes.

The Terra Cotta variety will draw attention with the delicacy of its patterns. The terracotta-coloured petals are veined in brick red. It looks like a composition where the master craftsman ingeniously creates each piece. The heart of the flower is lime green. On average, 4 to 6 enormous flowers, 20 cm (8in) in size, tower above one, often two, tall and thick hollow stems of 55 cm (22in) in this variety. Positioned back-to-back, they form a unique composition together. The leaves are deciduous, ribbon-like, and dark green. Planting an Amaryllis is a very rewarding experience. It 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. What a delight to have this magnificent plant indoors when the weather is harsh outside and the garden is dormant. If you want to give it as a Christmas gift, remember to plant it at the beginning of November. For your own pleasure, pair it with its crimson counterpart, Amaryllis Rapido.  Place it in the sun, for example in front of a window. Trim the stem when the flowers fade to promote flower regrowth.

There is actually a misuse of language directly related to a mistake made in the 18th century. It was Linnaeus himself who used it to name the beautiful American plant. However, the name was already being used for another beautiful plant, this one from South Africa. Conventionally, the denomination Amaryllis was kept for both. And to distinguish them, the mention Hippeastrum was added for the first one and Belladone for the second one. It must be said that both deserve this name: Amaryllis means 'sparkling' and, in classical Greek literature, it 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, gorgeous bunches of red flowers will emerge.