Amaryllis, cultivars and hybrids

[Alberto]

Hi all, here to show the spectacular blooming of Amaryllis belladonna. Even if the name of the whole family comes from this genus, only two species have been ascribed to it, belladonna and paradisicola, the latter not currently in cultivation.
The scapes emerges from bake soil after rain in late summer.
Alberto

[Paul T]

Alberto,

Seems so strange to see them now.... here it is usually around February!    Do you have a range of different colours of them where you are?  Apparently early last century there was a lot of hybridising breeding done between Amaryllis belladonna and some of the Brunsvigias, then backcrossed to the belladonnas to create what are called "Multiflora hybrids".  Plants such as 'Hathor White' are probably that type of plant, as they have fully round facing flowerheads, instead of the flowers all facing the same way on the straight belladonnas.  There's all sorts of different shades of pink, from quite dark almost reds to pales pinks, some with veinings etc.  I am never sure how widely available around the world these things are, which is why I ask?  Do you have different ones around, or does everyone pretty much have exactly the same type?  They just look stunning in a big display, but I find that the older species type doesn't like flowering for me for some reason, while the other bigger hybrid types are much more accommodating.  And the perfume is just glorious, although a bit strong to bring into the house.

So great to see them now, in late winter here for us.  I can almost smell them just thinking about them.  Thank you SO much. 

[Alberto]

Paul, I have 4 different named cultivars but I have lost the labels in the soil with the rain and the sun (they are unreadable); the only I remember is Johannesburg. I have a white form that has not flowered until now.
Alberto

[Paul T]

Alberto,

Yeah, we have the named cultivars as well here, plus there are numerous different ones that you can come across in people's gardens from time to time, I think because of that breeding here in Australia a century or so ago.  A lot of the white ons sold here as 'Hathor White' are incorrectly named, not having as strong an orange-gold throat to them as the real thing.  I'm no expert on them though, just recalling what others who really know there Amaryllis have said! 

[Alberto]

Here is an hybrid Amarygia parkeri 'Alba', a cross between Amaryllis belladonna x Brunsvigia josephinae. Strongly fragrant flowers.
Alberto

[Paul T]

Alberto,

Beautiful picture!  Does it have the yellow throat?  Does it always have that number of flowers?  The Brunsvigia crosses can have a lot of flowers (one of mine that I found in a friend's garden routinely has more than 25 flowers per stem in a full circle).  I do like the pure white of yours.... just so clean.

[Alberto]

Another hybrid involving Amaryllis belladonna. x Amarcrinum memoria-corsii (syn. x Amarcrinum howardii). The other parent is Crinum moorei. This hybrid is evergreen with a short resting period in early summer. Also this is strongly fragrant, with the flowers larger than the ones by belladonna. It is more tender.
Alberto

[Alberto]

Paul, my Amarygia is pure white.
Alberto

[Paul T]

Alberto,

That sounds beautiful.  All the whites I have seen have always had yellow in the throat to some amount.  Pristine white sounds delightful!

[Renate Brinkers]

This Amaryllis we saw some years ago in a parc in Malaga, Andalusia.

[Renate Brinkers]

This one I bought at the plantshow in Beervelde, Belgium. Unfortunately I have no idea which hybrid it could be. Maybe anyone knows it.

[fermi de Sousa]

Apparently early last century there was a lot of hybridising breeding done between Amaryllis belladonna and some of the Brunsvigias, then backcrossed to the belladonnas to create what are called "Multiflora hybrids".  Plants such as 'Hathor White' are probably that type of plant, as they have fully round facing flowerheads, instead of the flowers all facing the same way on the straight belladonnas. 

Hi Paul,
someone (it might've been Bruce Knight) wrote an interesting piece in the Australian Garden Journal[now defunct]about these hybrids and proposed that the other parent was actually Cybistetes (longifolia I think). I'll have to dig out the article one day to show you.
Alberto,
Lovely to see your pics. These amazing bulbs are much taken for granted here because they take so little looking after!
I heard that a Californian breeder had introduced orange into the colour range but have never seen any pics, so can't confirm.
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Fermi,

I seem to recall reading that there were definite "questions" as to what the actual parentage was.  Certainly not the Brunsvigia josephinae what was originally stated.... at the very least a different species, and possibly a different genus.  Didn't realise that it may have been Cybistetes.

[Alberto]

Hi, I too think that B. josephinae is not involved, as the petals are so  linear with the tips reflexed! Indeed I saw a cross Amaryllis belladonna and Boophane disticha and the flowers do not remember the latter!
Any of you have the article cited?
Alberto

[Folypeelarks]

Your Amaryllis beladonna specimens are so beautiful!
This year I grow such plant for a first time!I receive two bulbs.After I put them in the soil They begun to develop in different ways.One of the bulbs doesn't formed even leaves..It's still in the pot.
The other formed many and in one moment It stops its growth.After that the plant begun to form new leaves which still grows from few different points of the bulb (mainly from the center).The old leaves are now withering up.
I don't know when the growing Amaryllis will begin to flowers.
Freaky bulbs.. =)