Amaryllis: Star of the Festive Season

November 2024, powered by FloraLife

Native to South America, Amaryllis, or Hippeastrum as it is formally known, is a flowering bulbous crop belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family.

According to Greek mythology, Amaryllis was a beautiful maiden who fell in love with Alteo, a shepherd with the strength of Hercules and the beauty of Apollo.  In order to win him over, Amaryllis stood outside his house for thirty days, piercing her heart with a golden arrow nightly. On the thirtieth night, crimson flowers grew from where her blood had spilled on the ground and Alteo finally fell in love with her.

Its Latin name is derived from ancient Greek and means Knight’s Star, but exactly why it was given this epithet is not known, although speculations abound.

Mostly known for its striking red flowers, breeding to develop novel varieties began in England in 1799. Those typically used for commercial purposes today were developed more recently in the Netherlands, United States, South Africa, Japan or Israel.

Thanks in part to its festive color, Amaryllis has long been a popular flower around the holidays, whether grown from bulb, in which case its rate of growth is a source of fascination for children and adults alike or used in arrangements as a cut flower.

So whether you’re dressing a winter wonderland wedding, a merry family gathering, or creating a yuletide masterpiece, be sure to include all and any shade of Amaryllis to make the perfect seasonal statement.

Care and Handling Information

Shipping & Storage

• Shipping and storage temperatures should be 34 – 38° F (1-3° C).

Re-hydration at Store Level

• Start processing with a clean bucket, sanitized with FloraLife® D.C.D.® Cleaner.
• If received dry packed, conditioning of stem ends is recommended to prevent blockage and promote uptake. Cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, sanitized clippers or knife, and treat with FloraLife® Quick Dip.
• Place flowers in a flower food holding solution such as FloraLife® Express Ultra 200. Do not put flowers directly in metal/galvanized buckets. Use clean, high-quality water that has not been treated with a water softener.
• Store in a cooler at 34 – 38° F (1- 3° C) with 75 – 85% relative humidity.
• Allow minimum 2 hours to hydrate placing buckets in an area with good airflow.  
• Always remember FIFO (first in/first out) when rotating Amaryllis or any other flowers.

Vase Care

• If received dry, cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, sanitized clippers or knife, and treat with FloraLife® Quick Dip.
• Immediately place flowers in properly dosed vase solutions (flower food and water) containing FloraLife Crystal Clear® (the perfect solution for clear vases), or FloraLife® Express 300 (the no-cut premium solution).

Special Considerations

Amaryllis stems have a natural tendency to split and curl, this does not affect vase life, but may affect the visual appearance of the stems. Using an opaque vase can help disguise this trait.

*Product availability depends upon geographical region