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Fire Lily Hippeastrum

Other plants called Fire Lily:

Previously known as:

  • Callicore
  • Leopoldia
Phonetic Spelling
hip-ee-AY-strum
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Amaryllis are ornamental herbaceous perennial bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae family. They are native to Central America and South America and grow 1 to 3 feet tall and up to 1 foot wide. There are over 100 species and hundreds of cultivars. The flowers range in colors of red, pink, white, orange, salmon, and bicolor, and they may produce two to six flowers per stalk. There are single or double flowering, and miniature varieties available. 

The genus name, Hippeastrum, originated from the Greek words hippos which means horse, and hippeus meaning rider. It was thought that the flower appeared to look like the head of a horse. The common name, Amaryllis, can lead to some confusion because there is a genus also called Amaryllis that is native to South Africa. 

Amaryllis grow best in full sun or partial shade and in soil high in organic matter and moist but with good drainage. They tolerate drought but need moisture during the active growing season. When planting, bury only half the bulb below the surface with the narrow part of the bulb (the “neck”) well above the soil line. Bulbs may be started indoors in early spring and moved outside for late spring to early summer bloom. Propagate amaryllis by division or seeds. Note that plants are injured at temperatures below 35 degrees F. They can, however, survive the winter outdoors in zones 7 and 8 if properly mulched. In zones below 7, amaryllis bulbs are grown as houseplants for a pop of color during the winter holidays. Pot them between mid-autumn and late winter for bloom approximately five weeks later.  

Amaryllis bulbs need a dormant period of recovery and rejuvenation after bloom. Remove flower stalks but leave the foliage intact to wither on its own. Reduce watering. When the foliage turns brown, remove it. If the plants are being grown outdoors, add a layer of mulch 2 or 3 inches deep. If the plants are being grown indoors, move them to a cool (50 to 55 degrees F), semi-dark location to rest. Let them be dormant for 8 to 10 weeks. To restart the growth cycle, move plants to a well-lit, warm (70 to 75 degrees F) location and resume watering. 

The large, showy blooms of amaryllis last for three to four weeks making them great for use in borders, cutting gardens, as specimens or garden accents, and as houseplants. Amaryllis are very popular as indoor flowering bulbs during the winter months.  

Quick ID Hints:

  • bulbs produce one or more 12 to 24-inch tall, erect, hollow, stout leafless flower stems
  • large strap-shaped, smooth, glossy green leaves
  • 2 to 6 large showy flowers in an umbel inflorescence that bloom at the top of the scape
  • 2 bracts enclose the flower buds until they bloom
  • each trumpet-shaped flower has 6 colored tepals (3 petals and 3 sepals)
  • 6 bundled stamens and filiform style with a trifid stigma
  • fertilized flowers produce a capsule that is filled with flat brown or black seeds

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: Mealybugs are occasional visitors. Watch for snails and slugs if plants are outdoors.

Please note that the common name Amaryllis is applied both to Hippeastrum species, which are the commonly cultivated bulbs discussed here and to the genus Amaryllis, which is less commonly cultivated (and comprises only two species native to South Africa).  

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aphrodite'
    double flowers, white with pinkish red feathering
  • 'Apple Blossom'
    blossoms are white with pink feathering
  • 'Baby Star'
    miniature variety, deep red with a white center star
  • 'Blossom Peacock'
    double flowers, red with white throat and midrib
  • 'Christmas Gift'
    white blossoms with a green throat
  • 'Dancing Queen'
    double flowers, red and white striped
  • 'Fairytale'
    miniature variety, white with raspberry stripes
  • 'Green Goddess'
    miniature variety, white with green center
  • 'Minerva'
    blossoms are red with a white star
  • 'Monte Carlo'
    blossoms are mostly red with white stripes
  • 'Neon'
    miniature variety, fuchsia pink with a white throat
  • 'Orange Sovereign'
    orange blossoms
  • 'Picotee'
    white blossoms with red edge
  • 'Red Lion'
    blossoms are dark crimson red
  • 'Voodoo'
    red petals with yellow center streaks
  • 'White Nymph'
    double white flowers
'Aphrodite', 'Apple Blossom', 'Baby Star', 'Blossom Peacock', 'Christmas Gift', 'Dancing Queen', 'Fairytale', 'Green Goddess', 'Minerva', 'Monte Carlo', 'Neon', 'Orange Sovereign', 'Picotee', 'Red Lion', 'Voodoo', 'White Nymph'
Tags:
#bulb#showy flowers#poisonous#houseplant#drought tolerant#winter bulbs#spring flowering bulbs#problem for cats#ebh#problem for dogs#problem for horses#ebh-g#container plant#hsc#hsc-fl
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aphrodite'
    double flowers, white with pinkish red feathering
  • 'Apple Blossom'
    blossoms are white with pink feathering
  • 'Baby Star'
    miniature variety, deep red with a white center star
  • 'Blossom Peacock'
    double flowers, red with white throat and midrib
  • 'Christmas Gift'
    white blossoms with a green throat
  • 'Dancing Queen'
    double flowers, red and white striped
  • 'Fairytale'
    miniature variety, white with raspberry stripes
  • 'Green Goddess'
    miniature variety, white with green center
  • 'Minerva'
    blossoms are red with a white star
  • 'Monte Carlo'
    blossoms are mostly red with white stripes
  • 'Neon'
    miniature variety, fuchsia pink with a white throat
  • 'Orange Sovereign'
    orange blossoms
  • 'Picotee'
    white blossoms with red edge
  • 'Red Lion'
    blossoms are dark crimson red
  • 'Voodoo'
    red petals with yellow center streaks
  • 'White Nymph'
    double white flowers
'Aphrodite', 'Apple Blossom', 'Baby Star', 'Blossom Peacock', 'Christmas Gift', 'Dancing Queen', 'Fairytale', 'Green Goddess', 'Minerva', 'Monte Carlo', 'Neon', 'Orange Sovereign', 'Picotee', 'Red Lion', 'Voodoo', 'White Nymph'
Tags:
#bulb#showy flowers#poisonous#houseplant#drought tolerant#winter bulbs#spring flowering bulbs#problem for cats#ebh#problem for dogs#problem for horses#ebh-g#container plant#hsc#hsc-fl
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hippeastrum
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and South Tropical America
    Distribution:
    Angola, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and the United States
    Bulb Storage:
    Mulch during the winter in zones 7-8.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Houseplant
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit forms a trivalve capsule containing brown or black seeds which are dry, flattened, and obliquely winged.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Tepals
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Umbel with two or more flowers per stem. Blooms last 3-4 weeks. Flower color includes spotting or banding. Each inflorescence has 2 or more flowers and each flower is 5 to 8 inches across; the species are usually purple or red. The perianth has six brightly colored tepals (three outer sepals and three inner petals) that may be similar in appearance or very different. The perianth segments are subequal or unequal. The tepals are united at the base to form a short tube, usually with a rudimentary scaly paraperigonium with fimbriae or a callose ridge present at the throat. Cultivars come in a range of colors with various patterns and striations.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Large, 12 to 24-inch, strap-shaped green leaves begin to grow at about the time the flowers open. Leaves may reach 12-24 inches long and are smooth and glossy.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    stout-but-hollow leafless flowering stems (scapes) grow 12-18” tall
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Toxic if eaten in large quantities. Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part. Especially harmful to pets.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Alkaloid lycorine
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Stems