Amaryllis belladonna 'Alba'

This is the rare white form of the Amaryllis Belladonna from South Africa. Botanically speaking, Amaryllis Belladonna is the only true Amaryllis. What are commonly refered to as Amaryllis are actually Hippeastrum which originate in South America. These bulbs are hybrids that have been hand selected for their white flowers. Some of these have a faint pink throat and some have a light yellow or salmon throat. The petals and overall flowers are pure white. In my experience these grow true from seeds (white crossed with white). Since the two bulbs you will receive are not clones, they should be able to cross with each other. This may be your only opportunity to get these unique bulbs. The the bulbs are firm and fresh. Being closely related to narcissus, these are also deer-proof, gopher-proof, as easy to grow as weeds, growing in sun or part shade in any type of soil. Blooming each year in the dry season, without any watering required for survival, they are obviously highly drought-resistant, being one of the few summer or autumn flowering bulbs that can do so without being watered. This is due in part to their extensive fleshy root systems and large bulbs, and also to the fact that they have no leaves at this time, hence the name "naked ladies." The lush, shiny green leaves (about a foot long) are somewhat like those of clivias or agapanthus, and are produced during the winter and spring rainy season. Amaryllis Belladonna are highly recommended for those with mild winters and relatively dry summers. Folks in other climates can grow them in large pots if they are willing to do the extra work. Grow outside in zones 8-10 with mulch. It is also possible to grow these amaryllis in pots, but I would suggest nothing smaller than a 5 gallon size as they need lots of space for their big bulbs and roots. Water occasionally whenever they are not receiving adequate rainfall. The Amaryllis Belladonna for sale here are large, having bloomed previousely for confirmed color accuracy. They put the (rarely available) Amaryllis Belladonna Alba from the Netherlands to shame.. They are blooming size but often take time to become established before blooming in a new location.