I have been studying my Sunset Western Garden Book. I found a plant that looks like what I was told was a Lycoris. The only difference was that it was labelled Amaryllis belladonna. Does anyone know the difference? I will try to get a photo of the blossoms when they bloom in August.
Thanks,
Chuck
Lycoris vs Amaryllis belladonna
I had the same confusion and problem after having seen them all over in CA a year or two ago. I finally determined that those are most likely
the Amaryllis. They like it warmer than the Lycoris Squamigera. I've read that the Lycoris are also fussier growers and sulk if moved. I also think that they differ in when they send out leaves vs. the blooms. I think the Lycoris sends outs leaves in spring that die back, blooming after the leaves are gone, whereas the Amaryllis sends up blooms at the end of summer and then leafs out.
I bought myself one of the Lycoris and several of the Amaryllis this fall to see which does better here. IF they both come up, I'll try to get pictures for comparison. (I've also heard that Lycoris doesn't like it here in PNW, so I may not see anything at all) I'm not planting them near each other, so I won't be getting them mixed up.
That sums it up pretty well. :) There is some difference in culture, too. They're both in the Amaryllis family, the belladonna bulbs looking like most amaryllis with a thicker, more coarse tunic and should be planted shallow. Lycoris looks like a giant tulip bulb with a very thin paper tunic. They like to be planted very deep with their long noses about 2" below the soil.
This is what I find to be the subtle difference ~ A. belladonna is thoroughly pink http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/164033/
Lycoris has a bluish cast on it's tips, a slightly diamond-dusted appearance and a somewhat irregular pattern of petals http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/163598/
Thanks for all your help. I guess I have Amaryllis belladonna because the blooms are pink...no blue tinges. I guess that is the fun about gardening because I am always learning. Actually I had pretty well given away quite a few of the bulbs away and threw away a lot too in time for the So California Round Up in July 2006. I left myself about ten bulbs. Now one and a half year later, I have over fifty of the bulbs coming up...LOL!
Thanks again for all the help...
Chuck
Holy cow! lol I guess you'll always have trade material. ~ you're welcome.
Susybell, as long as you see foliage in the Spring, don't give up on the Lycoris blooms. It might take a couple years.
I don't want to get into trouble here...but I'd read somewhere that the Amaryllis belladonna is an invasive around these parts (not just a nuisance, but spreads to the wild displacing natives) but that lycoris is not....so I've avoided the amaryllis.
Information?
I would like to know more information about this. First of all, I checked Hoopa California. Just to make sure of the settings I googled the town and the Internet came back with a town north of Eureka. Is this correct? We are between Los Angeles and San Diego. I am not sure that what is invasive to Northern California is invasive to Southern California. I have only seldom seen Amaryllis Belladonna in anyone else's garden other than mine even though a couple of years ago, I gave away some of the bulbs for the So California RU.
Please advise so I can stop growing this cultivar if necessary.
Thanks,
Chuck
We're different, but perhaps not so terribly, Chuck. I'm in the Trinity River valley, inland about 60 miles. You're warmer, but perhaps similar to the coast with less fog? I don't have any more information, and personally opted on the side of caution, but thought I'd ask when I saw the thread about them. Now, compared to Moby's climate in Nebraska...brrr...that's a different story.
Anyone know? I do see belladonna all over the place here.
Or maybe it's lycoris?
I think with the Lycoris having a reputation of being fussy, and also listed for colder zones that it's most likely the Amaryllis Belladonna that you see. I first saw them on my trip through N CA in August of '06-first time I'd wandered around sort of out your way in many years, at least during bloom season.
Dear 4paws,
I didn't mean to come on so strong, sorry!! What I meant was in order to determine whether a plant is invasive or not, where would I look?
Thanks,
Chuck
:-) No worries, Chuck.
This is what I came up with
http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=06
It's introduced, but I didn't find it listed as a noxious weed. I am sure I read it somewhere valid, perhaps on DG.
I tend to err on the side of caution since I live in the woods, more or less. There are so many plants that have taken over, specifically ivy..and other quick, cheap ground covers and the blackberries - I don't want to inadvertantly add to my battle against them! :-) However, some are easily contained and still enjoyed. :-)