Hippeastrum ( Amaryllis )

Pride, splendid beauty, timidity

Known botanically as hippeastrum, from the Greek hippos, which means "horse," amaryllis blooms are huge, trumpet-shaped flowers clustered atop stately long, leafless stems. Members of the Amaryllidaceae family, amaryllises are at home in the tropics, and are native to South America and Africa. The flowers are traditionally sold during the winter holidays--both as cut flowers and packaged in potted bulb kits.

Year round, with peak supplies from October through May. 7-14 days.

If storing in a cool place, keep temperatures between 41-50 F. Temperatures below that may result in discoloration of petals and buds. Handle amaryllis carefully as blooms bruise easily.

An amaryllis stem is striking when used alone or in a vegatative design. Allow room in an arrangement for the flowers to open fully. Heavy amaryllis blooms may need the extra security and support of a hyacinth stake or bamboo rod inserted into the hollow stem. The stem tends to curl outward when standing in water, which does not affect the life of the flower, but can disturb a design. To remedy, wrap a piece of clear tape or a rubber band around the end of each stem.