Hardy Amaryllis Bulb (Hippeastrum x johnsonii) - 1 bulb

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Featured here is a hardy amaryllis blooming on the Southern Bulb farm in April.

Hardy Amaryllis Bulb (Hippeastrum x johnsonii) - 1 bulb

$12.00

Scientific:: Hippeastrum x johnsonii
Bulbs/Pack:: 1 medium sized bulb
Planting Time:: avoid planting in extreme heat or cold
Shipping Period:: when available
Bloom Type:: red and white striped
Bloom Period:: late spring
Bloom Size:: softball sized
Zones:: 7-10
Color:: red with white stripes
Planting Depth:: plant with neck just above soil
Soil:: any but not in standing water
Fragrance:: excellent and slightly spicy
Light:: full sun to part shade
Height:: 10"-24"
Reliability:: very reliable

Description

Hippeastrum x johnsonii

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Many amaryllis perform well along the coastal regions, but few match this bulb in its ability to withstand cold temperatures and poor soils. One of the most exciting and underutilized garden bulbs is the hardy amaryllis (Hippeastrum x johnsonii). Thanks to mass marketing over the nation, most of us only think of amaryllis only as forced product for Christmas, but many Houstonians and avid gardeners along the Gulf Coast and in California know that amaryllis will come back for them each year as perennials! Moving into colder regions, and in some areas even Zone 7, gardeners are well aware of one amaryllis that over winters - the April/May blooming red and white striped garden amaryllis found in many heirloom gardens.

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It is believed to be the first hybrid amaryllis with a history dating back to the late 1700's, and gardeners in Texas who have had them form massive clumps with an explosion of red color would still say they are the best hybrid on the market. Even in such large clumps, the bloom capacity is not hindered in any way. The striking red trumpet shaped blooms with their white stripes are show stoppers in every sense of the word.

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Johnson's amaryllis is another name for this bulb, in honor of the hybridizer and English watch maker, Mr. Johnson. The flower, especially in areas such as New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities, is known as the St Joseph's lily.

How cold can they get?

That is a great question. During our major freeze near the farm in 2021, we reached 0 degrees for an extended period of time. Hardy amaryllis that were close to structures did fine, but any that were exposed in an open field did not come back. Neil Sperry, in McKinney (north of Dallas, Texas), has mentioned a freeze in the past that killed a good amount in the city there but at the same time spoke of many that came back and were not affected. In conclusion, Zone 7 is pushing it, and as you get warmer from there you should be ok. If you are ever unsure, don't be afraid to give them a good layer of mulch over the winter.

Hint: if you lean in close enough, you will catch a slight spicy fragrance that is simply the icing on the cake, and makes these gorgeous blooms amazing as cut flowers.

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Shipping & Returns

Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping
We ship within the continental United States.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.