How to grow Barbados Lily

Hippeastrum puniceum

After flowering cut the stems back to the bulb and let the leaves grow. Place plant outside when warm enough if desired. In the fall when leaves start to yellow cut them off and remove bulb from soil. Let dry and place in cool (40-55F) dry place for at least six weeks.
Do not store bulbs near apples.1 Do not use fertilizer with too much nitrogen as this may prevent blooming and encourage disease.4
Bulbs in zone 8 or more can stay planted in the ground all year.

Growing Barbados Lily from seed

Lay the seeds on their side on sterile potting soil and cover lightly with soil and water. Seeds should germinate in 4-6 weeks.3 Plants grown from seed usually will not flower for 2-3 years.

Soil temperature should be kept higher than 21°C / 70°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Barbados Lily about 7 days after your last frost date .

Transplanting Barbados Lily

Soak bulb in warm warm just before planting.
Do not cover ‘neck’ or top of the bulb.
Plant bulb 8 weeks before you would like them to flower.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Barbados Lily is a tender plant.

By our calculations*, you should look at planting out Barbados Lily about 18 days after your last frost date.

Harvesting Barbados Lily

Seeds can be harvested after the seed pod ripens and opens. Bulblets can be removed from the mother bulb. Bulbs may be dug up and divided (harvested) at any time, if the new bulbs are large enough. Works best if the new bulbs are at least 1/3 of the size of the mother bulb before harvesting.2
Ideal harvest time is during the start of the dry season for your location, which is usually MidSummer to Late Summer for most of the USA.

How long does Barbados Lily take to grow?

These estimates for how long Barbados Lily takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Barbados Lily to germinate?
14 days

Average 14 days | Min 5 days | Max 770 days (5)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Barbados Lily?
+ 440 days

Average 440 days | Min 489 days | Max 498 days (2)

Days to Maturity How long until Barbados Lily is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 530 days

Average 530 days | Min 554 days | Max 554 days (1)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Barbados Lily?
= 984 days

When should I plant Barbados Lily?

Our when to plant Barbados Lily estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Barbados Lily before or after your last frost date.
7 days after Last Frost Date
When to plant out The number of days to plant out Barbados Lily before or after your last frost date.
18 days after Last Frost Date

Barbados Lily Etymology

“Hippeastrum” is Greek for “horseman’s star” (also known today as “knight’s star”). Also local common name of “Schoolhouse Lily.”

Barbados Lily Folklore & Trivia

Also local common name of “Schoolhouse Lily.”

Other names for Barbados Lily

Barbados lily, Christmas lily, Holiday lily, Amaryllis

Hippeastrum puniceum (Lam.) Kuntze

Misspellings: amerilus, Barbados liliy

Footnotes

1 Amaryllis Planting

2 Growing the Delightful Amaryllis

3 Amaryllis

4 How to Help an Amaryllis that won’t bloom


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