Last winter I watched as people posted their photos of Amaryllis to social media, admiring the large and loud flowers that cheered up the darkest winter day. I decided that I needed to have a try at growing them.
Following the instructions on the Peter Nyssen website, I planted the bulbs in November, moved the pots to the lounge room to await their bloom. The first leaves popped up within a few days, and since then I’ve been marvelling at their fast growth. And a couple of months later they have flowered.
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) Papilio
![A large creamy-green flower with a small green throat, burgundy stripes and touched with green on the reverse of the petals. To the left is a single tall thick daffodil-like leaf, and you can see the back of a second flower as well.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180390cr-Amaryllis-Papilio-970x1024.jpg)
![A large creamy-green flower with a small green throat, with burgundy stripes and touched with green on the reverse of the petals. Behind the flower are two tall thick daffodil-like leaves, and you can see the back of a second flower as well.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180383cr-Amaryllis-Papilio-784x1024.jpg)
Amaryllis Red Pearl
![A close up of a flower that is as large as your hand, looking slightly down to the left. It is a deep dark red, with rich velvety petals that have purple markings through them.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180398cr-Amaryllis-Red-Pearl-857x1024.jpg)
![A close up of a flower that is as large as your hand, looking slightly down to the right. It is a deep dark red, with rich velvety petals that have purple markings through them.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180416cr-Amaryllis-Red-Pearl-953x1024.jpg)
Amaryllis Charisma
![A single large flower, about as big as a smaller adult hand. Its white flowers are flushed with raspberry-red petals.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180463cr-Amaryllis-Charisma-933x1024.jpg)
![A single large flower, about as big as a smaller adult hand. Its white flowers are flushed with raspberry-red petals.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180447cr-Amaryllis-Charisma-991x1024.jpg)
These have certainly brightened up the depths of winter. I do believe that this is the beginning of a new love affair.
![Three white pots with tall flowering Amaryllis flowers. On the left is Chrisma, in the middle is Papilio, and on the right is Red Pearl.](https://www.gwenfarsgarden.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/P1180473cr-Amaryllis-1000x1024.jpg)