Amaryllis and hippeastrum: twin brothers

Amaryllis and hippeastrum are really "relatives", they belong to the same family - amaryllis. But the amaryllis belongs to genus amaryllis, which is represented by only one species - beautiful amaryllis (amaryllis belladonna), and hippeastrum - to genus hippaestrum, numbering about 80 species. Homeland thermophilic amaryllis - South Africa, and hippeastrum came to us from South America.

Both amaryllis and hippeastrum are bulbous plants. At first glance, they are very similar: a long stem, beautiful large flowers, bright green linear-lingual leaves. But if you look closely, it's quite easy to distinguish between hippeastrum and amaryllis.

One of the main differences between hippeastrum and amaryllis is the flower stem (stem). In the amaryllis, it is not hollow, has a purpleshade, height of the peduncle - up to 96 cm. In hippeastrum, it is shorter, up to 90 cm, hollow, has a cylindrical shape. The stalk color of the hippeastrum is usually green, but may have a brown, gray or purple hue.

Flowers are larger in hippeastrum than in amaryllis, but in number of flowers in inflorescence less - 2-4 flowers versus 6-12 in the amaryllis. Although some varieties of hippeastrum may have more - 8, 9 and even 15. Amaryllis flowers exude a strong pleasant aroma, and hippeastrum has a faint smell or does not smell at all.

Amaryllis flowers are painted in different shades of pink - from light-pink to pink, almost white, to dark, saturated pink, more like red. In hippeastrum, the "assortment" of colors is wider: depending on the variety there are red, pink, yellow, orange, white, cream, green gippeastrum. There are two-colored, striped, mottled flowers, flowers with veins.

Amaryllis flowers have funnel-shaped, the average size is 9-13 cm. In the case of the hippeastrum, Terry, long-tubular, orchid-like shape of flowers, and their size varies from 5 to 22 cm. Both in the amaryllis and in the hippeastrum, the flower consists of six petals, but if they are similar in shape and size to the amaryllis, then hippeastrum is not necessary.

It is possible to distinguish hippeastrum from amaryllis and by flowering time: the amaryllis blooms at the end of the summer or in the fall, once inyear. The time of flowering of the hippeastrum depends on the time of distillation: in the early forcing of hippeastrum color in the fall, late - in winter and in spring. Some hippeastrums bloom more than once a year, and two, the second time - usually in the summer.

But these differences apply only to adult flowering plants. What if you yourself want to grow an amaryllis or a hippeastrum in a pot, but are afraid that you will sell "wrong" bulbs? Basically, bulbs of hippeastrum and amaryllis can be distinguished from each other in appearance. Amaryllis bulbs are large enough (12 andmore cm), have a pear-like shape. In hippeastrum, they are smaller (7-9 cm), they have a symmetrical shape, they can be rounded, slightly elongated or rounded-conical.

However, even despite the differences, the bulbs of these two plants are fairly easy to confuse. Therefore, the best way out - buy bulbs in specialized stores. Planting material must be in the original packaging of the manufacturer. You can also take a daughter bulb from an adult plant - how to distinguish an adult amaryllis from a hippeastrum, you already know.

Hyppeastrum more common and better grows and blooms in the room. Amaryllis has to be heavier, because inour hemisphere, its biological cycle is violated. In natural conditions, the amaryllis blooms in the spring, during the rainy season, then vegetates, and when the heat and drought come, there is a period of rest. We have the same amaryllis blooms in autumn, which falls on the African spring. And when there comes a period of growth, he does not have enough light - because we have winter at this time.

* The photo on the left shows an amaryllis, in the photo on the right - hippeastrum