Plant of the Week: Hippeastrum

You don't get many of these to the pound, but Amaryllis, more often called Hippeastrum, are worth every penny as a Christmas gift.

They are reliable bulbs which produce a magnificent head of large trumpet blooms in spring that will repeat flower year after year as long as the plant is watered and fed occasionally during its summer growing period. You should be able to find white, red, orange, pink and striped white and pink on display. Select ones that come complete with a pot and compost and your lucky recipient is well away. Some of the largest bulbs that will produce many heads of flowers are sold loose and you need to add to this an attractive container in which to grow it – and a small bag of decent compost.

YP MAG 27/11/10