7 Fragrant Amaryllis Varieties For Your Home
Winter isn’t the most floriferous, but fragrant amaryllis varieties can make it more so! While they typically bloom in spring, you can force them indoors. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay walks you through seven fragrant amaryllis cultivars you can have at home this winter.
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If you’ve never grown fragrant amaryllis varieties, now is your chance. These flowering plants in the Hippeastrum genus offer the same showy flowers that all species have, with a scented twist. Most produce a light scent rather than a pronounced one.
In the garden outdoors and in their natural habitats, these plants bloom in spring. But you can force them to bloom indoors by chilling them and subsequently exposing them to warmth and light. That means you can enjoy their scent in winter, even when snow covers the garden.
We’ve gathered seven of the fragrant types you can find online and in big box stores if you find a source in time. Most of these tend to sell out quickly, so if you missed an opportunity this year, there’s always next year.
Misty
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Misty’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 16-18″ |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
For an ombre of rosey pink and white, look to ‘Misty‘. This is one of the fragrant amaryllis varieties bred by Fred Meyer in 2004. The bulbs of this plant produce two to four flowers each, with a succession of blooms that last for months if cared for properly.
Among the others on this list, it’s very uniform, with an almost striped look to its petals. The blossoms of this variety are smaller, but with multiple bulbs, you’ll have lots of fragrant flowers throughout the season.
Picasso
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Picasso’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12-20″ |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
For a truly unique look, ‘Picasso’ is perfect. If you’re forcing this one to bloom indoors in winter, you’ll have stunning Christmassey white petals with a thin border of deep red. Some petals take on the same crimson stippling within the border.
These blooms are also small, but each bulb produces four to six flowers per stem. They bloom for up to seven weeks when indoors. This one is rare, so keep your ear to the ground to order before they sell out!
Santiago
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Santiago’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 18-24″ |
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hardiness zones 8-10 |
The larger blooms of ‘Santiago’ offer a stark contrast of white petals with deep raspberry striping. The flowers reach up to seven inches across, and their petal centers have a stunning white stripe. They continuously flower for up to two months in optimal conditions.
Get these in your forcing containers in late October or early November for the best display. Each bulb produces up to three stems with four to five flowers. That’s roughly 15 flowers per bulb!
Voodoo
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Voodoo’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 18-20″ |
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hardiness zones 8-10 |
This one is known as both the ‘Voodoo’ and ‘Naughty Marietta’ fragrant amaryllis varieties. To add to the many names of this Hippeastrum, it’s also commonly referred to as St. Joseph’s lily. Its orangey-red blooms are simply gorgeous in the winter display, and we have Ludwig and Co. to thank for that. They developed this cultivar in the 1960s.
The centers of each bloom are cream, surrounded by deep salmon striped with maroon. In full sun, they take on a bronze tone. Keep yours in the direct line of the sun if you want this effect. Place it next to your poinsettias for multiple reddish hues.
Dancing Queen
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Dancing Queen’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 20-22″ |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
If you want one of the fragrant amaryllis varieties that has full, luscious flowers, ‘Dancing Queen’ is a great choice. Whereas most varieties have a few tepals, this Queen has nine-inch blooms with up to 14. The petals have alternating white and striped red patterning with fringed edges. There’s really no other type like it.
This variety brings a tropical feel to the garden, whether indoors or outdoors. It offers a bit of divergent style in the indoor winter garden. Each bulb grows two to three stems with three to four blooms.
Blossom Peacock
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Blossom Peacock’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 18-22″ |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
We love hot pink! And ‘Blossom Peacock’ has just that. It pops among other fragrant amaryllis varieties, and has delicate patterning with bright reddish pink to white ombre on its double flowers. Each reaches up to seven inches across.
Expect two to three stems per bulb with up to six flowers per stem. The flowers are uniform and exquisitely beautiful.
Alfresco
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botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Alfresco’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1-2′ |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
If you like the look of peonies, pick ‘Alfresco’. This variety brings dense white double blooms with frills that create an illusion of nearly triple flowers. Each bulb emits two to three stems, which grow five to eight blossoms. For the best display, pick the largest bulbs.
The stark white color of this amaryllis can’t be beat. It’s a perfect choice for a winter display, adding a touch of snowy whimsy. Outdoors, this variety provides a neutralizing palette that looks great among more boldly colored bloomers.
