Timing the stunning blossoms of Amaryllis for the Winter holiday season requires a bit of planning. Shoot for the first of November when planting Amaryllis bulbs for holiday blooms. Here’s the how-to for show-stopping blossoms for the home or gifting:

Planting Tips:

Favorite Varieties:

Traditional: Jumbo Amaryllis “Red lion” boasts the intense, bright red is the colour that Amaryllis are most famed for. Top size bulbs make a huge difference in terms of performance and flowering. You can find this stunner at dutchgrown.com.

Unique:  Amaryllis “REVELATION” is a tall cerise/red amaryllis with red edging. It comes from Amaryllis & Caladium Bulb Company and is recommended for holiday forcing. Gorgeous.

Flashy:  Named after a favourite pollinators,  Papilio Butterfly yields flowers that look like they might take flight at any moment. Soft green orchid-like blossoms accented by velvety burgundy stripes and hints of lime green make a sensational statement wherever they’re grown. The most popular of the exotic This one makes a  perfect houseplant, growing larger with each passing season as smaller side bulbs emerge. Not to mention that each strong stem produces numerous gigantic flowers. Be warned, this guy is sometimes slow to bloom, so be sure and err on the side of early planting for the holidays.

Neutral: “Magic Green” from Eden Brothers is a lovely, muted colour making it a perfect choice for neutral and modern decor. Striking form, this award-winner grows stalks over two feet tall with neutral, lightest green-tinged blossoms.