Overview

Amaryllis belladonna is a plant with a columnar upright habit in the genus Amaryllis, part of the Amaryllidaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Amaryllis belladonna grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H2. Suggested uses include houseplants, conservatory and greenhouse and cut flowers.

About

Amaryllis belladonna, the Jersey lily, belladonna-lily, naked-lady-lily, or March lily, is a plant species native to Cape Province in South Africa but widely cultivated as an ornamental. It is reportedly naturalized in many places: Corsica, Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the Scilly Isles of Great Britain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ascension Island, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Chile, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, Indiana and the Juan Fernández Islands.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Amaryllis belladonna

About the genus

Amaryllis is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae. It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley and Knysna.

Wikipedia contributors, "Amaryllis", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Amaryllis

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Amaryllis

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H2

Plant details

Amaryllis belladonna size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Columnar upright

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Houseplants, Conservatory and greenhouse, Cut flowers

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Amaryllis belladonna

Propagation

Remove offsets in autumn

Pest resistance

Bulb scale mite, Large narcissus bulb fly, Slugs and snails

Disease resistance

Fungal diseases

Frequently asked questions