Growing Red Trumpet Lily (Amaryllis/Hippeastrum) In My Garden

I remembered I bought two bulbs of the Red Trumpet Lily from the wet market many years ago. The auntie told me that the bulb will yield red flowers and I just have to trust her.

At that time I was starting my gardening hobby and I was collecting a lot of plants. I tried not to buy full grown plants from the plant nurseries because that would incur a lot of money. So I usually buy baby plants which were cheaper. I have to patiently care for the plants and have the joy of watching them grow. Sometimes I will be blessed with stem cuttings and seeds from friends.

True to the auntie's word, the bulb grew into a healthy plant and bore bright red, beautiful trumpet flowers. Now the one plant had multiplied into many plants.

Scientific name: Hippeastrum / Amaryllis

Common name: Red Trumpet Lily

Each flower stem will usually yield 4 flowers that look like red trumpets. 2 opposite flowers will bloom first and then the next 2 opposite flowers will bloom.

Some will only have 2 or 3 flowers.

Leaves: green, long strap leaves that can grow to about 20 inches (50 cm) long and the width about 1.75 inches (4.5 cm).

The flowers are held up above the leaves. It has 6 red petals and centre light green. The flower stalk grows out direct from the ground. It has 6 stamens and 1 stigma.

Red Trumpet Lily can be grown in normal garden soil and with good water drainage. It does well in full sun or partial shade.

Red Trumpet Lily brightens up the garden with its bright red trumpet flowers. It can be grown in the ground or in pots.

Propagation is through bulbs. My pot of Red Trumpet Lily is now overcrowded, and the bulbs need to re-potted. I also grow them in the ground.

A flower bud growing out from the ground, ready to bloom.

Here comes the Red Trumpet Lily emerging from the bud.

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice
 and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon
will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
(Isaiah 35:1-2, New International Version-NIV)