Amaryllis Flower Bulbs

Amaryllis is both the genus and the common name of these flowering bulbs.  They are the only species is the group.  The amaryllis plant is native to southern Africa; however, they can be found in the tropical regions of South America.  Amaryllis bulbs are often called the belladonna lily. They are also called naked ladies because the stems and flowers appear during the summer when no foliage is present.

The leaves of amaryllis bulbs will appear during the spring or in autumn.  They can be from twelve to twenty inches long, and are about an inch wide.  Miniature species of amaryllis, such as the fairy lily, are much shorter plants even though the blooms are two to four inches wide, as with regular size amaryllis flowers.  The bulbs will go dormant after the leaves die back. The amaryllis bulbs will bloom later in the summer.

The amaryllis flowers will grow in a funnel shape and are usually two to four inches wide.  All of the amaryllis flowers will have three sepals and three petals that look about the same.  Each stem will have two to twelve blooms.  The color of amaryllis flowers is white with red colored veins.  However, these can also be pink or purple.