Belladonna
Lily
Perennial
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllis belladonna
Introduced to our gardens from Cape Colony in
1712.
The bulbs produce deep green leaves, strap-shaped
and up to one and a half feet long.
The flower-stems
reach about the same height and bear from five
to twelve large funnel-shaped flowers, not unlike
some species of lilies; those are soft rose in
colour and delightfully perfumed.
There are various forms of the Belladonna Lily,
the Kew variety being the best.
The bulbs require to be planted nine inches deep
in autumn in a well-drained soil that has been
enriched with leaf-mould or granulated peat.
The position should face south and be protected
from cold winds.
Where the winter is severe a protective litter
of bracken should be placed over the position
where the bulbs are planted.
Once the bulbs are establishes it is not wise
to disturb them for at least five years, when
they might be transplanted if desired as soon
as the foliage ripens.
Also called Callicrore rosea and Brunsvigia rosea.
Propagation is by offsets removed when the bulbs
have been lifted and ripened.
The flowering season is in August and September.
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