Help - about a year ago I saw an advertisement for an almost "black" amaryllis. Of course, I no longer have the mailer. Does anyone have any leads?
Black amaryllis
while I was in South Africa recently I saw one which is deep blue. the bulbs weren't for sale even with people offering open checks.
Mark
Mark, That was probably Worsleya rayneri, an amaryllis relative. It is very rare and extremely expensive.http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~adpal/kellydalenursery005.htm
That is AWESOME! I hope they can get the seeds and start propagating this amazing plant. Who knows it may someday be available in a store near you~
It is spectacular, isn't it? The only problem is that the plant is not much to look at when not in bloom and they have very specific cultural requirments. From seed they would probably take at least 5 years till their first flower. I've been searching for a seed source for some time now. These are probably some of the best pics I've ever seen of Worsleya.
This message was edited Wednesday, Aug 15th 7:34 PM
I want one of those............... REALLY BAD!!!!! I imagine they will cost the national debt when they become available to us common folk! :>)
I have tried for years to purchase the Worsleya. And yes they are very expensive. I think if I'm not mistaken it was $150.00 for on very small bulb. I couldn't even get that. They have a waiting list for them and I doubt if they will market them as they are soooooo rare. But good luck if anyone ever gets to purchase one. I have tried for 3 years and no luck. And again if you do get one they are not as easy as your normal Amaryllis to grow or Hepp.
Norma
andidandi
Apr 14, 2006
My understanding is that the "black" amaryllis are really deep red, and that the blue ones are nearly impossible to get regardless of price.
picture, picture!
Worsleya has been available from this grower in Sth Africa, if you click on 'List of plants' then Worsleya photo it will take you to it's history
http://www.capeseedandbulb.com/
There are only a few growers of it, someone in California has a link in Sth America but a long waiting list. The New Zealand site mentioned above, Mainly Amaryllids in Australia and Cape Seed and Bulb in Sth Africa. They need pollen from a different provenance to germinate the seed, and pollen swapping goes on. It takes 10 years to flower. I did have opportunity of one only from a specialist grower of Sth African bulbs here over a year ago, but it turned out to have basal rot, reasonably priced too!
http://www.users.bigpond.com/plants_man/Hompage%20Images%20and%20Cultivation/Worsleya%20Forum/Worsleya%20Forum.htm
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~adpal/kellydalenursery005.htm
I thought the discussion here was about a black. Worleya is blue. Did I miss something?
IN 1999 I SAW A FEW "BLACK"-RED HIPPEASTRUM AMARYLLIS AT KEUKENHOFF IN HOLLAND. THEY WERE ALL LARGE SINGLES, DISPLAY SPECIMENS BY GROWERS WHO HADN'T RELEASED THEM FOR SALE YET. SOME DIFFICULTIES WERE MENTIONED. . . MORE TO FOLLOW. . .
THE ONLY "BLACK" RED AMARYLLIS I OCCASIONALLY FIND OFFERED IN US CATALOGS ARE ONLY SEMI-DARK: ROYAL VELVET, ROMA, AND SOMEWHAT DARKER: RED PEARL, BLACK PEARL (I THINK THESE TWO ARE THE SAME). NONE OF THESE IS NEARLY AS DARK AS WHAT I SAW IN 1999.
THE TWO OR THREE DARKEST REDS AT KEUKENHOFF WERE FINICKY, I WAS TOLD. HARD TO PROPAGATE, GENETICALLY STRESSED, ETC., NOT LIKELY TO BE SOLD COMMERCIALLY ANYTIME SOON. I REMEMBER, "DON'T ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME." BUT WERE THEY EVER SPECTACULAR! A LOT OF TLC WENT INTO THEM, AND HOPEFULLY SOME DAY TAME VERSIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR US.