The Amaryllidaceae family consists of herbaceous, mainly perennial and bulbous flowering plants with strap-like leaves.
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The flowers are generally bell- or trumpet-shaped with three to six petals and fleshy berry fruits.
They range from giants like the agave, known as the century plant, to a large array of bulbs and, in some cases, tubers.
A few easy-to-grow members of this large family include the belladonna lilies, nerines, lycoris, hippeastrums and cliveas.
The sun-loving belladonna lilies are not too fussy about soil type and by nature are shy to flower. This is true of most of the amaryllids. Belladonna lilies flower in autumn while bare of leaves.
The sweetly-scented, funnel-shaped pink flowers are borne on top of purple/red to green strong stems.
Plant in summer while the bulbs are dormant in a sunny position where they can be left to dry out without any water during summer as this cures the bulbs and initiates flowering. Plant the bulbs with the neck well above soil level.
These lilies need ample space because they produce a lot of leaves after flowering.
If allowed to remain in the same spot without being divided they will form large clumps and over time many of the younger plants can be seen growing with their bulbs half way out of the ground.
Nerines could be best described as miniature belladonnas having the same growth habit.
The main varieties are Fothergillii with bright scarlet-spangled-with-gold flowers, Bowdenii the largest variety in pink, Sarniensis bright red and Alba's pure white.
Lycoris are much like the nerines but the stamens of the flowers are long giving a spidery appearance.
These easy-to-grow, long-lived plants are native to Japan and China whereas the nerines are found in South Africa.
Popular varieties include Aurea golden yellow, Radiata crimson red and Squamigera a lovely deep rose pink fading to silver.
Hippeastrums are in most gardener's eyes the most beautiful of all the amaryllids. Hybridists have produced some wonderful colours in the flowers which are much larger than the belladonnas.
The attractive strap-like foliage is another feature and flower colours range from shades of red and pink to combinations of these and white.
Many hippeastrum collectors grow them in containers in a glasshouse, but they are quite hardy in the open garden in a sunny aspect that is dry in summer.
Among the amaryllids the clivea is a well-known shade-lover, tolerating poor soils and growing happily in a container.
Clivea miniate is the most commonly-grown featuring deep green strap-like leaves and large clusters of lily-like flowers in orange, red, apricot and yellow on top of strong, erect stems.
Clivea nobilis has striking red flowers that hang down.
There are many hybrids and selected forms with larger flowers including a variegated one.
After flowering cliveas produce showy red berries, adding to their beauty and an unusual feature of cliveas is that they form rhizomes not bulbs.
Diary
June 18: Australian Native Plant Society, Max Fry Hall, Gorge Road, Trevallyn, 7.30pm. Mick and Helen Statham to speak on Flora & Fauna of Iceland and Scottish Outer Islands.
June 18: APSTAS NW meet at St Paul's Church Hall, 15 Thomas Street, East Devonport, 7.30pm
June 19: Launceston Horticultural Society, Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, 8pm. Shane Newett, the giant pumpkin breeder, will reveal his tricks of the trade.
June 20: The Launceston Orchid Society, Newnham Uniting Church Hall, 7pm. Visitors welcome.