We love our Hippies in the garden; commonly known as Amaryllis the botanical name is Hippeastrum equestre hybrids.      The plant is native of areas from Mexico to Brazil and Chile.

Plants grow from very large bulbs which we grow here in pots in our green house and they start to flower in late September; we can grow them out side here as we are relatively frost free; but we tend to water and look after them better when they are in the green house; and they start to flower a bit earlier as well.

Flowers are on thick stems up to 60 cm tall and the lily like flowers come in a range of colours including white, cream, many shades of pink, red, green and orange shades.  The flowers last 7 to 12 days when picked and are a sought after flower by florists in the spring and summer flowering period.

Often you will see plants in pots for sale in flower; and they have that typical Amaryllis habit of flowering before the leaves emerge from the bulb.

Bulbs should be grown in a rich compost or soil as they like plenty of food and a reasonable amount of water once the growth starts in spring.  Over winter they can be left in quite dry soil.    Bulbs are planted with the top 1/3 of the bulb above the soil; in a sunny or partially shaded spot.  Never let the roots coming from the bulb get completely dry you are lifting them from the soil; keep them stored in moist sand or sawdust until you can plant them properly.