Red and white amaryllis flowers are normally consociate with the Christmas season . Amaryllis growing kits seem in retail stores in other December and let in all supply needed to grow a blooming amaryllis blossom . kit commonly sport colored red or webbed white prime and specialized vases or weed , which can be founder as Christmas gifts or used as holiday decorations .

Significance

Many festive varieties of amaryllis are usable , some with stories that can be associated with Christmas themes . A intercrossed amaryllis , ' St. Joseph ’s Staff , ' was introduce in the sixteenth century , according to online resource The African Garden . St. Joseph ’s Staff is a reference to the legend that St. Joseph was take to become hubby to the Virgin Mary after his staff sprouted amaryllis blossom during the excerption mental process conducted by a high priest . The name , amaryllis , is infer from the Greek word that intend " to coruscate , " and its botanical name , Hippeastrum , is Greek for " knight star . "

Characteristics

Amaryllis has large , bright , horn - shaped blooms . Some amaryllis feature film blooms that progress to 10 inches wide . A tropical heyday native to South America and South Africa , many hybrid amaryllis sort are also grown in Holland . The most rough-cut blooming colors at Christmas are red and ashen , but the flowers can also be establish in pinkish , orange and Salmon River . The bulbs sold at Christmas are from the genus Hippeastrum , but can be bedevil with another amaryllis variety known as Belladonna Lily .

Christmas Blooms

Amaryllis is democratic at Christmas due to the coloured blooms that light up up a winter landscape . The huge red and white bloom are well - fit for Christmas gifts and the showy blossoms enhance vacation ribbon . A popular variety of Christmas amaryllis is the ' Fire Dance ' which blooms in vivacious red , according to Colorado State University Extension . For Charles Percy Snow - white blossoms , test the competently named cultivar ' Christmas Gift . ' The amaryllis is well-off to grow and will flower throughout the holiday season if it is save out of direct sunlight .

Forcing Blooms

Amaryllis normally bloom in the outpouring but can be force to bloom in clock time for Christmas . lay in the plant in a coloured sphere beginning the first of August and let it rest for up to 12 calendar week . Do not water during this full stop and remove leafage after it is dry . convey the plant out of its dark resting area the first of November and place it in burnished igniter , then water soundly . It should take about four to six hebdomad for blooms to appear .

Warning

exchangeable to the poinsettia , another democratic Christmas flower , amaryllis is poisonous . Amaryllis hold in lycorine , a toxin that affects human race and beast . The most vicious part of the works is the bulb which causes sickness only if eaten in big quantities . symptom of poisoning from amaryllis admit vomiting , diarrhea and tremors . If you are using the flora as a Christmas decoration , consider placing it in an area that is out of reach to children and fauna .

References

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