I’ve never grown Amaryllis before, they seemed pretty enough, but they never really grabbed me the way other bulbs like Iris or Hyacinth grabbed me. That is, until I saw a short article in Organic Gardening Magazine about Cybister Amaryllis. WOW! Have you seen these Amaryllis before?
Photo by Erick Lux
Cybister look like the black sheep, punk rocker of the Amaryllis family. They’re definitely not your grandma’s Amaryllis! The plant pictured above is called ‘Chico,’ but also be on the look out for ‘La Paz,’ ‘Emerald,’ ‘Lima,’ and ‘Ruby Meyer.’ Lima in particular is stunning. The top three petals are a deep mauve edged in cream, while the bottom three petals have mauve throats and cream tips.
According to FloriData, Amaryllis need bright indirect light and well-drained soil. And Martha says to plant the bulb with the top third to quarter above the soil line in a pot only a little bigger than the bulb. Apparently if the bulb is well taken care of, it will rebloom multiple times (if you dead head) and can be stored and replanted next year. Considering that the going rate appears to be ablout $12-$15/bulb for the cybister varieties, it’s good to know that the bulbs can be saved!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG!!! These are stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Julie — We have similar tastes is plants, so I’m not surprised that you like Cybister Amaryllis too.
Love It!!! So different from the usual amaryllis. These would make great holiday gifts.
Absolutely hot stuff. If the standard Amaryllis is a gin and tonic, the Cybister is the sauciest mojito ever. Great post, Fern.
Cindy — Good idea!
invisible.bees — LMAO!!!!
I usually summer my Amaryllis out of doors in sun and in the Fall bring them to a cool basement and withold water for several weeks before bringing them to a sunny window sill for water and food and to hopefully rebloom. I received three pots, each planted with 3 Cybister bulbs, Lima, Sumatra and Emerald. They bloomed in turn and were a wonderful gift. I really enjoyed them and would like an encore. Do I handle them in the same manner as their “cousiuns”?