Hippeastrum sonatini White Rascal

Hippeastrum sonatini 'White Rascal'® is a quite fantastic Amaryllis, resistant to very short freezes, which can be grown in the ground in many regions, without the need to dig up the bulbs in autumn. Its funnel-shaped flowers, pure white with a green throat, bloom abundantly in summer. Its bulb, smaller than the Amaryllis that is forced to bloom for Christmas, also produces smaller but much more abundant flowers! It can produce up to 4 flower stalks, each carrying 3 to 5 flowers. The floral stems, sturdy and stocky, withstand wind well. Plant them in small groups in a sunny but not scorching exposure or in partial shade. It is also a lovely plant to adorn the terrace or balcony.

From the Amaryllidaceae family, Hippeastrums are native to South and Central America. They are generally grown in pots in our latitudes and flower indoors during Christmas. Hippeastrum sonatini is a variety developed in the past twenty years by the Dutch company Barnhoorn Hippeastrum, with the aim of obtaining a hardy Amaryllis that can be grown outdoors, even in cold climates. The result is a smaller, more floriferous Amaryllis, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -8°C (17.6°F) for a short period. The vegetation emerges from the ground in spring and disappears in late summer.

In full bloom, the 'White Rascal' variety forms a clump 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) in height in full sun and 30cm (12in) in width. In partial shade, the stems can reach 50cm (20in) in height. The plant blooms in June-July. The 6 to 12cm (2 to 5in) wide flowers are funnel-shaped and slightly flared. Each flower is composed of 6 pointed, slightly undulating, veined, thick and iridescent petals. The heart of the flower releases long white stamens. 4 to 5 flowers positioned back to back gracefully rise above 3 to 4 hollow stalks. The leaves are linear, ribbon-like, and dark green and glossy. They dry up and disappear a few weeks after flowering, when the bulb enters its dormant period.

Planting a garden Amaryllis sonatini is very rewarding, and there is now a beautiful range available in various colours and forms. This plant is very easy to grow and grows very quickly. This 'White Rascal' variety, with its bright white flowers, naturally complements all other plants in the garden. Plant it in small groups, and it will work wonders in a flower bed, as a border, or in a beautiful enamelled terracotta pot, on the terrace or balcony. Planted in well-drained soil, Amaryllis sonatini will multiply and come back every year, provided they are well protected under a thick layer of mulch in regions where the temperature drops below -10°C (14°F). They also make excellent cut flowers, with a long vase life.

Speaking of Amaryllis is actually a misnomer directly related to an error made in the 18th century. It was Linneus himself who used it to name the American species. However, the name was already used for another beautiful flower, this time from South Africa. Conventionally, the denomination Amaryllis has been retained for both. And to distinguish them, the mention Hippeastrum is added for the first and Belladona for the second. It must be said that both deserve this name: Amaryllis means "sparkling" and, in classical Greek literature, the plant was the subject of a pastoral poem in which the beautiful shepherdess Amaryllis dies of unrequited love, which will only be accessible to her after a terrible wound. From her blood, gorgeous bouquets of red flowers will emerge. Since then, the term has become synonymous with lofty beauty.