Hippeastrum (Galaxy Group) 'Desire'

RHS Plant Profile

amaryllis 'Desire'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Conservatory Greenhouse Bulbs Houseplants

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A deciduous, bulbous perennial with long, strap-shaped leaves, and from winter into early spring, large, salmon-red flowers with darker orange-red veining borne on stout stems to 60cm high

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or South–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

Pot newly purchased bulbs from October to January so that two-thirds of the bulb remains above the surface and water in well. The appearance of leaves will signify that root activity has started and regular watering can begin. A good supply of water is required as soon as growth becomes vigorous with a temperature ideally in the region of 15-18°C and a sunny position. See hippeastrum cultivation and bulbs for Christmas flowering for further information

Propagation

Propagate by removing offsets in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Cut flowers

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

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

Diseases

Generally disease-free