The name Amaryllis is taken from a shepherdess from Virgil's pastoral "Eclogues". The species was introduced into cultivation at the beginning of the eighteenth century. They reproduce slowly either by bulb division or seeds, and have gradually naturalized from plantings in urban and suburban areas throughout the lower elevations and coastal areas in much of the West Coast of the USA since these environments mimic their native South African habitat.
I received an Amaryllis bulb for Christmas from one of my former employees at work. I have never had an amaryllis during the dark winter months, but heard from others how beautiful the forced blooms are during the darkest time of the year.
I placed the bulb in the potting mixture that came with the bulb, put it in a south-facing window on December 26, and waited. About three weeks ago, the shoots from the bulb were about 8 inches tall--in just three weeks, they are now 24 inches high, and have red blossoms half-opened. They are beautiful--I can't imagine that I have not grown one before this!
This brilliant profusion of floral parts reminds me that spring is only 6 weeks away.
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