Overview

Hannonia hesperidum is a plant with a bulbous habit in the genus Hannonia, part of the Amaryllidaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Hannonia hesperidum grows best in full sun, and tolerates sand soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H1a. Suggested uses include conservatory.

About

Hannonia hesperidum is a bulbous member of the Amaryllidaceae with deciduous leaves. It favours full sun and a dry, sandy, neutral soil in an exposed, south-facing spot. In UK conditions it is treated as tender (H1a) and is best grown where frost can be excluded. Flowering is in May to June.

About the genus

Hannonia is a genus of plants in the Amaryllis family. It contains only one known species, Hannonia hesperidum, endemic to Morocco and confined to Western Morocco, Promontory of Hercules. The specific epithet comes from Greek έσπερος, of evening, as the flowers open in the late afternoon.

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

In the garden

Hannonia hesperidum is a bulbous Amaryllidaceae known from a single-species genus and valued for its spring flowering. As a bulbous, deciduous plant it emerges to flower in the late spring and then dies back to its bulb. In the UK it is handled as a tender species (H1a) and is most secure kept where temperatures do not fall below frost. Grow Hannonia hesperidum in full sun on a free-draining, sandy medium of neutral pH and keep the rootzone on the dry side; position the pot or container in an exposed, south-facing spot so it receives maximum light. Because the plant prefers dry conditions, water sparingly and avoid waterlogging; allow the compost to approach dryness before any rewatering. Suggested use is in a conservatory where frost can be excluded and light levels are high. As a conservatory bulb it suits a dedicated pot or a shallow pan where the bulbs can remain undisturbed. Expect a brief display in May to June; after flowering the foliage will die back as the bulb moves into dormancy. Keep bulbs dry through dormancy so their tunics remain intact and they reliably produce the following season's flowers.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Hannonia

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Sand

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Dry

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Exposed

UK hardiness

H1a

Plant details

Hannonia hesperidum size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Bulbous

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Conservatory

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Hannonia hesperidum

Propagation

Seed, bulb offsets

Pest resistance

Susceptible to rot if overwatered

Disease resistance

Susceptible to rot if overwatered

Frequently asked questions