Amaryllis sends up a thick, leafless stalk topped with enormous trumpet blooms, timed by growers to flower right around the winter holidays from a bulb that needs almost no skill to force into bloom.
Native to South America, amaryllis has become one of the most popular gift bulbs in the world, sold pre-potted or bare and prized for the reliable, dramatic show it puts on just a handful of weeks after planting.
Amaryllis symbolizes pride, determination, and radiant beauty — a fitting name borrowed from a proud shepherdess in Greek mythology.
Plant the bulb with its top third exposed above the soil line in a snug pot, water lightly until growth appears, then water more regularly as the stalk shoots up. Bright indirect light and a slightly cool room help keep the flower stalk sturdy rather than leggy. After blooming, the bulb can be dried off and stored to force again next winter.
All parts of the amaryllis bulb are toxic if ingested; it has no history of medicinal or culinary use and should be kept away from pets and children.
