The upper petals are red/orange, while the lower half are whiter with alternating patterns of freckles and spots. The flower is medium sized and bears at least 4 blooms (trumpets). Boasting a vase life of 12 days the Hippeastrum ‘Charisma’ is more than acceptable.

Over the past few years there has been a strong increase in demand for Hippeastrum, or as it’s more commonly know Amaryllis. In 1998 supply amounted to 88 million stems, by 2001 this figure was 97 million stems.

Christmas is coming…
In the run up to Christmas, Amaryllis is the perfect flower for Christmas decorations and arrangements. Red and white are very dominant in the assortment, so the link with Christmas is an obvious one.

It would never happen now
Greek mythology tells the story of a very sensitive maiden by the name of Amaryllis. One day, as she was picking flowers on the side of a hill, she met a shepherd called Alteo and fell in love with him at first sight. Unfortunately Alteo was not interested in girls, only in flowers. He was often heard declaring that he would give his love to a maiden who could bring him a new flower. 

Amaryllis was in despair and consulted the oracle at Delphi. Here she was advised to take an arrow from the temple and to wound herself with it in front of Alteo’s hut, at the same time declaring her love for him. She was to repeat this, if necessary for several weeks.  

Amaryllis followed the advice of the oracle and when the clock struck midnight on the first night, she plunged the arrow into her breast and into her very heart. It was as though her life flowed out of her as she stood before Alteo’s hut, loudly calling out his name and declaring that her life was bound to his. Alas to no avail. The next evening she did the same again.  

For thirty nights her blood ran in front of Alteo’s door, until at last, a miracle occurred. Where her blood had fallen there grew a large, red flower with a wide-open, trumpet-like flower. “Alteo, Alteo, here is your flower”, Amaryllis cried excitedly. Alteo saw the delicate maiden with the heavy stem, topped by the unknown, red flower of love, in her hands. The shepherd knelt before her and cried, and as they exchanged their first kiss, the larks sang high the sky. Naturally enough the new flower was called Amaryllis.

Supply

• Available from November to April.  

Care Tips

• Optimal storage temperature is 41 to 50°F  
• Store dry or clean water  
• Cut stems off at an angle   
• Storage at low temperatures can cause discoloration in the red varieties  
• Cut flower food is not necessary, but if used in a mixed bouquet Hippeastrum can tolerate it  
• If you have to remove Hippeastrum from the vase, remember the stems will be filled with water  
• Pushing a wooden stick or knitting needle into the hollow stem to prevent buckling can extend vase life  
• Hippeastrum continues to grow as long as the flower blooms. Ensure there is plenty of room above the flower for it to grow  
• The flower has a strong tendency to grow towards the light, so move the vase regularly  

Background

• The bulb was imported by Europe from Chile in 1840  
• Hippeastrum was originally found in South and Central American and the Caribbean   

A member of the Amaryllidaceous family