A large, tender perennial bulb grown as a houseplant, with long, strap-shaped green leaves. Clusters of large, lily-like white flowers, touched with green in the throat, are produced on upright stems in winter or early spring
0.1-0.5 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Plant bulbs in autumn in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with the neck and shoulders above the soil surface. Place in bright filtered or full light and water sparingly until in active growth, then water freely and apply a dilute, balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks. After flowering reduce watering as the leaves die off; keep dry when dormant. Pot on every 3-5 years in autumn. See hippeastrum cultivation and bulbs for Christmas flowering for further information
Propagate seed as soon as they are ripe. Keep seedlings growing without a dormant period to encourage early flowering, bulbs will take three to five years to flower. Alternatively, propagate by removing bulb offsets in autumn
Cut back flowering stems as they go over. Cut back leaves as they go yellow, when bulb is going into dormancy
May be susceptible to bulb scale mite and narcissus bulb fly
May be susceptible to fungal diseases