Hippeastrum 'Philadelphia' (d)

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amaryllis 'Philadelphia'

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amaryllis 'Philadelphia' visionspictures.com
Bulbs Herbaceous Perennial

A large, herbaceous perennial bulb with strap-shaped, long green leaves appearing after flowering. Sturdy stems of showy, double white flowers with red veining down the petals appear in the winter

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Hippeastrum are deciduous bulbous perennials with slightly fleshy, strap-shaped leaves and stout, leafless stems bearing umbels of large, funnel-shaped flowers usually in winter or spring
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant bulbs in the autumn with the neck and shoulder above the soil surface. Grow in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost. Water sparingly until in active growth, water regulary when in growth and feed fortnightly with a balanced liquid feed. After flowering, reduce the watering as the leaves die off. Keep dry when dormant. This hippeastrum can also be planted in a dry, sunny border but will need winter protection. See hippeastrum cultivation and bulbs for Christmas flowering for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as they are ripe, keep seedlings growing without a dormant period to encourage earlier flowering. Remove bulb offsets in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Cut back flowering stems as they go over. Cut back leaves as they go yellow, when bulb is going into dormancy

Pests

May be susceptible to bulb scale mite, large narcissus bulb fly and slugs and snails throughout the summer months

Diseases

May be susceptible to various fungal diseases