24 Unique Kinds Of Amaryllis You Can Grow For Beautiful Blooms In Your Home

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Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) is a tropical flower that is adored for its vibrant colors and large, star-shaped blooms. These flowering perennial bulbs are commonly grown as houseplants in cool climates. Some people plant them outdoors in the summer, then force their amaryllis to rebloom in the winter indoors, while others keep the bulbs as houseplants that bloom twice per year with proper care. Yet, most people don't know that there are actually more than 90 different species of amaryllis and even more commercial hybrids — with most cultivars coming from just six species. Each has a unique petal color to add vibrancy to your indoor garden. They all require the same basic care and growing conditions, including seasonal replanting outdoors if you wish.

These flowering perennials grow from bulbs that thrive in containers. All amaryllis bulbs produce a long, green stem with sword-like leaves and vibrant, tropical blooms, but the petal color, pattern, and shape can vary significantly. Some cultivars, like 'Apple Blossom,' 'Pretty Nymph,' or 'Rosalie,' produce delicate, spring-colored blooms with soft, pastel pink, or orange tones. Others, such as 'Ferrari,' 'Marilyn,' or 'Red Reality,' are more classic, with deep red or stunning white blossoms. For a more exotic option, consider 'Pink Amazone,' 'Lemon Grandise,' or 'Pinkolo,' all of which feature stunning patterns and colors that will stand out in any room. To save your amaryllis bulbs for more gorgeous blooms next year (if they were growing outdoors in summer), dig them up at the end of their season and bring them indoors. They won't survive a hard frost.

'Apple Blossom' (Hippeastrum 'Apple Blossom') has a delicate flower with a soft color palette of white and pink. It's said to resemble the blossoms of an apple tree, hence the name. With care, this amaryllis can bloom twice a year indoors — once in late spring or early summer and again in winter — with blossoms lasting up to eight weeks. When exactly it flowers depends on when you start the bulb. Each bulb produces two or three stems with four to six flowers. The flowers feature deep pink to white ombre-effect petals and a lime-green center.

'Bogota' (Hippeastrum 'Bogota') has deep red flowers with six long, thin petals. Most amaryllis have rounded petals, which makes this a truly fascinating cultivar to add to your indoor garden. A single stem produces several flowers that bloom in succession rather than simultaneously, resulting in an extended flowering season that can last from early spring through summer or, in some cases, right through winter. The red, spider-like flowers are on the smaller side, as far as amaryllis go, with most measuring up to 5 inches in diameter.

As the name suggests, 'Candy Nymph' (Hippeastrum 'Candy Nymph') is a vibrant flowering bulb — in this case, the frilly blooms are hot pink. The nymph part of the name comes from the plant's array of unusual ruffled petals, which add a delicate touch to your home décor. Each stem features up to six flowers that bloom in succession and can reach 9 inches in diameter. Expect flowers to appear six to eight weeks after planting the bulb. 'Candy Nymph' amaryllis stand slightly taller than other cultivars at 24 to 28 inches.

Red is a common color for amaryllis flowers, but 'Christmas Star' (Hippeastrum 'Christmas Star') adds refreshing yellow and white. Expect blooms about 5 inches in diameter with bright red petals that feature a starburst of yellowish- or greenish-white radiating from the center. Each stem blooms in succession for a long season of flowering. For best success, find out everything you should know before planting this amaryllis indoors — namely, well-drained but moist soil and bright, indirect light.  As the name suggests, 'Christmas Star' is frequently used as living holiday décor because it is a winter flowering amaryllis.

'Charisma' (Hippeastrum 'Charisma') could be described as a bolder version of the 'Apple Blossom.' It has a very similar ombre effect on the petals, but the deep pink starts in the center and fades to white. There's also a distinctive dark pink border around each petal. These large blooms reach up to 6 inches in diameter on top of 24-inch tall stems. Each bulb produces up to 10 flowers that bloom in succession for a long bloom season. Expect flowers from spring through summer when planted indoors early in the year, or throughout winter when planted in fall.

This stunningly unique flower is aptly named for the two layers of thin petals that blossom like a fountain of pink and white stripes. 'Doublet' (Hippeastrum 'Doublet') usually has four to six flowers with any number of petals, which adds to the uniqueness of this cultivar. The number of petals isn't the only thing that changes with each new bloom, though. Individual flowers have their own irregularities in the layout of the petals, the color patterns, and the overall size. Expect blooms eight to 12 weeks after potting up the bulb.

When you see an 'Evergreen' amaryllis (Hippeastrum cybister 'Evergreen'), you may stop to wonder if this plant is even in the same family as its other, more typical cousins. The bulb, stem, and leaves resemble any other amaryllis, but this rare cultivar stands out because it really is evergreen — in color, not in habit. 'Evergreen' flowers have small, thin, pointy petals that are pale green, making them look more like foliage than flowers. This unique green-flowering amaryllis is coveted by amaryllis collectors for the artsy look they bring to a room.

This next amaryllis cultivar offers up a stunning, luxurious display indoors, something that's reflected in the name. 'Ferrari' (Hippeastrum 'Ferrari') features large, velvety blossoms with deep crimson petals that are reminiscent of the most popular color for Ferraris. The bright blooms are on the larger side for amaryllis, growing over 8 inches in diameter. The stem can reach up to 26 inches tall. While most amaryllis flowers take six to 10 weeks to bloom after planting, 'Ferrari' is faster (as, perhaps, expected given the plant's name) — it needs only five to six weeks of growing time.

'Lemon Grandise' (Hippeastrum 'Lemon Grandise') has a unique petal shape with lemon-cream coloring. It's also one of the largest cultivars — the blossoms can reach over 9 inches in diameter. The big flowers have three round petals in the back with three smaller, slightly ruffled petals offset on top of them. The center is green that fades to a creamy yellow as the color moves up the petals. 'Lemon Grandise' will bloom in winter through to spring, depending on when you plant the bulb. Each bulb usually produces two stems, each with four flowers.

It's not hard to see why this elegant white amaryllis cultivar is called 'Marilyn' (Hippeastrum 'Marilyn') after the iconic style of white, frilly skirt made famous by Marilyn Monroe. This plant has the standard large, rounded petals that amaryllis are known for, but with a twist: they're double-layered. Nestled on top of the first layer of petals is a second layer of round, sometimes-ruffled petals. On occasion, the center of the flower will have a soft green hue that fades to white or is carried through the entire flower in streaks.

'Neon Eon' (Hippeastrum 'Neon Eon') is a bright pink-flowering amaryllis with distinctive light pink or white brush strokes through the center of each petal. These showy blooms are on the smaller side, reaching about 6 inches in diameter. They take slightly longer to bloom than other cultivars, with growing time extending up to 12 weeks. However, the dramatic blooms are worth the wait for dedicated amaryllis growers. If you only want to grow amaryllis indoors in winter, this is also one of the only varieties that is hardy outdoors down to Zone 7.

'Pink Amazone' (Hippeastrum 'Pink Amazone') is yet another amaryllis cultivar aptly named for its iconic coloring. The color pattern is said to resemble South American tribal patterns, with a pink on the top half of the flower and white or pinkish-white on the bottom half. The hues are clearly demarcated by a thin white line. 'Pink Amazone' stems can reach up to 24 inches and blossoms get to about 8 inches wide. Unlike other varieties that can grow two or three stems per bulb, the 'Pink Amazone' generally only grows one stem with up to six flowers.

'Single Pinkolo' (Hippeastrum 'Single Pinkolo') is similar to the vibrant 'Neon Eon' amaryllis, but instead of soft brush strokes in the center of the petals, each boasts a bold white line. This adorable miniature pink amaryllis has small blooms on long stems. The flowers appear to be more resilient than larger varieties, giving the plant a longer blooming time in grower trials. The pink hue is usually bright, but it can range from reddish to rosy. Expect flowers in winter indoors.

Unlike other white amaryllis cultivars on this list, 'Polar Belle' (Hippeastrum 'Polar Belle') flowers are a true snowy-white. They bring the beauty of winter indoors and provide a refreshing break from typically bold-colored amaryllis blooms. The elegant flowers of 'Polar Belle' feature double petals that sometimes have soft pink veins at the tips. This is a medium-sized amaryllis, which should reach 20 inches tall at maturity.

Amaryllis 'Pretty Nymph' (Hippeastrum 'Pretty Nymph') looks like a cross between 'Pinkolo' and 'Candy Nymph.' The perennial bulb boasts pink, ruffled double petals with white stripes, giving it a unique charm — this plant makes for enchanting living home décor. 'Pretty Nymph' is on the shorter side for amaryllis. Stems grow to 18 inches, each with four to six flowers. However, the flowers are large: up to 10 inches in diameter.

Another fiery amaryllis cultivar with unique flair is 'Red Amazone' (Hippeastrum 'Red Amazone'). It boasts a style of bloom that is unlike those of most other amaryllis. The long, narrow, reflexed (bent back) petals spread wide, starfish-like, to make a bold statement in any room of your home. While its cousin, 'Pink Amazone,' has a tribal vibe, 'Red Amazone' is reminiscent of the exotic flowers native to the tropical rainforests of South America, hence the name. In fact, it may have the Brazilian Hippeastrum aulicum as a parent.

Here's an indoor plant even novices can impress with this holiday season, for Valentine's Day, or just to brighten up your home through the dark winter: 'Red Reality' (Hippeastrum 'Red Reality'). If you love richly hued flowers, it may be the right cultivar for you. The maroon blooms feature a dark red, almost black center that fades to a softer, more romantic red. It has a single layer of six petals in the iconic amaryllis fashion. 'Red Reality' is a tall cultivar, with a stem reaching up to 24 inches topped with 7- to 8-inch wide blossoms.

'Rilona' (Hippeastrum 'Rilona') is not as common as the red or white varieties of amaryllis, but it's just as notable, aesthetically, as any of the others on the list. The striking blooms have a distinctive orange hue that can be bright in the sun or soft and subtle — think shades of salmon or apricot — when grown in shadier spots in a home. The stems reach an impressive 30 inches tall, but the blossoms are medium-sized, reaching an average of 7 inches in diameter.

Another delicate, amaryllis cultivar that may surprise you with unique colors when it blooms is 'Rosalie' (Hippeastrum 'Rosalie'). It boasts soft pink to orange petals with a lime green center. While this particular perennial bulb is generally considered a shorter plant, it produces medium-sized blooms that grow to about 6 inches in diameter. They also have that round, six-petal shape so iconic to amaryllis, but the flower appears a little more trumpet-shaped than usual, with curled-out edges.

The flowers of 'Sweet Cream' (Hippeastrum 'Sweet Cream') are almost like a reverse version of the similarly hued 'Charisma' cultivar. 'Sweet Cream' blooms feature various shades of speckled pink in an ombre pattern with a white outline around the edges of the petals. To say it makes a statement would be downplaying its beauty. This stunning cultivar can grow relatively large, with flowers reaching 8 inches in diameter. 'Sweet Cream' is not suitable for holiday display because it generally takes longer — up to 12 weeks — to bloom after planting.

'Sweet Lillian' (Hippeastrum 'Sweet Lillian') looks almost like a lily instead of an amaryllis, but it still has the sturdy amaryllis stem with its crown of blooms in the spring, summer, and winter. The six petals of each flower come to a thin point instead of having the round or oval shape so familiar to the genus. This only adds to the soft elegance and uniqueness of the pretty flower. The center of each bloom is a deep lime to deep green, which fades to white at the tips. White, pink, or red stripes shoot through each petal.

'Sweet Star' (Hippeastrum 'Sweet Star') is one of the more delicate varieties of amaryllis. It has flowers with soft pink, slightly ruffled petals. The relatively small blooms reach 6 inches in diameter on stems up to 24 inches tall. Most bulbs put out at least two stems, which produce a full crown of blossoms in succession for a lengthy flowering season. Expect to wait eight to 10 weeks after planting to see flowers.

Another option for a subtle touch of elegance in any room of your home is 'Terra Cotta Star' (Hippeastrum 'Terra Cotta Star'). This cultivar has flowers in the standard amaryllis shape and size, with six rounded petals and an almost 8-inch diameter. What makes this particular perennial bulb special is its terra cotta coloring, which can vary between orange, brick, salmon, peach, pink — or a blend of any or all, depending on lighting. The flowers have a vibrant green, star-like center that fades delicately into the petals.

'Tinkerbell' (Hippeastrum 'Tinkerbell') is an enchanting petite cultivar that would fit right into an indoor fairy garden. This miniature amaryllis has only one layer of petals — unlike the double-layer blooms of most nymph amaryllis — that grow to between 4 and 5 inches in diameter. The mildly ruffled edges of the petals give the diminutive flowers a cute, fairy-like vibe that adds a little whimsy to any room. 'Tinkerbell' typically produces more blooms than larger cultivars — expect five to seven flowers per stem.