A bulbous perennial to 60cm tall, with bright green leaves to 40cm long, emerging with or just after the flowers. In winter or spring it produces up to 3 funnel-shaped flowers to 15cm long; the petals are scarlet with green and white centres and white petal margins
0.5-1 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 by removing offsets in autumn. Sow seed as soon as ripe at 16-18°C; keep seedlings growing without a dormant period to encourage earlier flowering
No pruning required
May be susceptible to bulb scale mite and large narcissus bulb fly
May be susceptible to fungal diseases