Indestructible naked lady a late summer stunner

This article was first published on 07 Mar 2018.

A sign that summer is drawing to an end is the emerging buds of Amaryllis belladonna. The large pink or white flowers are often seen in home gardens where it grows easily in a sunny, dry spot. Ideal conditions are provided under the eaves of the house especially up against a sun baked brick wall. It also does well in pots where it can be displayed when flowering and hidden away when dormant.

Carl Linnaeus, an influential botanist romantically named the plant after Amaryllis, the beautiful Greek nymph, and the Italian words for beautiful lady; bella donna. Then, because the flowers are produced on top of a tall leafless stem, modern gardeners gave it the common name of naked lady.

Not to be confused with the similar Hippeastrum, a tender indoor bulb with the synonym Amaryllis, naked lady is almost indestructible. In its natural habitat in the Western Cape of South Africa Amaryllis grows in rocky, sunny places. The fragrant inflorescence grows to 50-80 centimetres and tends to face the direction of the sun.

The general rule with most bulbs is to plant them at twice their depth. Amaryllis is one exception in that they should sit with their neck at or slightly above the soil surface. Once flowering is over, the strap-like leaves emerge from the large bulb and persist throughout the winter. Clumps may be divided just after flowering before the leaves emerge.

Amaryllis is flowering in the Rock Garden and Southern African Garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden.

Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Robyn Abernethy.