Amaryllis belladonna bulbs

Amaryllis belladonna make excellent cut flowers and are cultivated worldwide. We stock a variety of sizes bulbs. This fragrant and very impressive looking flowering bulb species is guaranteed to bring you so much joy every year. The name Amaryllis belladonna says it all with Amaryllis meaning strength, beauty, pride, love and belladonna meaning beautiful woman.  This pride of Africa won the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society award of Garden Merit. 

This is a gift with a lot of symbolism that will keep on giving, year after year. Both for him and for her.

Conditions

March lily or Amaryllis belladonna is Endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa and thus enjoys long, hot and dry summers with wet conditions in winter.  You can plant them directly in the garden or in containers.

In nature they tend to grow around rocks, at the edges of trees or close to bushes. This provides ideal conditions with leaves that get caught up around the rocks and providing mulch to keep in moisture and provide nutrition. The light shade from the bushes, trees and rocks protect them from drying out. They do best  in full sun, but then they need more water to prevent the bulbs from drying out. Not too much shade is advised, as they need sun to flower.

The March lily - Amaryllis Belladonna  needs deep watering when they are in leaf.

Amaryllis bulbs are dormant and underground during the hot dry summer months  and then they then suddenly surprise you with a beautiful display of spectacular flowers, in March as Autumn is breaking.  After that, it goes into leaf, when the winter sets in.  This is truly a very inspiring and rewarding plant to have in the garden or on the patio.

Soil

March lily - Amaryllis Belladonna enjoys porous compost rich soil with good drainage, but do well in less rich soils too. 

Planting

Bulbs must be only partially buried with 1 or 2 cm of the neck sticking out and spaced about 20 cm apart, as they get very large. The best time to plant in the dormant stage.  Avoid disturbing the roots, to get good results with flowers. A 5 year replanting is recommended as this also stimulates flowering. Yes, it's fussy like that. 

Maintenance

Your new bff  will be very happy with a little natural nutrition like worm tea, vermicompost, or compost.

 Take note that it is a toxic plant and needs to be extracted and used correctly and in the right dose when it's used medicinally.

Medicinal uses

Amaryllis belladonna bulbs contains phytochemicals such as phenolic acid, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Phenolic acid has antioxidant, cytotoxic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antispasmodic properties. It also has value as an antidepressant, for treating cardiovascular disease and is used for anti-aging purposes.

Traditionally infusions, tinctures, decoctions, teas, poultices, and powders are made from them.