F&B 23


The flowers of the lily and amaryllis are similar in appearance. However, the plants belong to two different families. Shown is the traditional Easter lily (right) and a type of Asiatic lily (left) that is commonly sold at nursery centers during the Easter holiday period.		Although the Easter lily and amaryllis have very similar cultivation characteristics, amaryllis is more tolerant of excessive soil moisture conditions than lilies.

A. Let me begin by answering the last question first. Although the flowers of the amaryllis and the Easter lily are similar, the plants belong to two different families. The Easter lily or Lilium longiflorum is a member of the family Liliaceae, whereas the amaryllis or Amaryllis hippeastrum, belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. Both of these flowering bulbs have very similar cultivation characteristics, although the lily is less tolerant of excessive moisture. Local nurseries are also offering another type of lily know as pixie lilies. These are Asiatic lilies (Lilium asiaticum) and plants stay in the one to two feet height range. The Orange Pixie variety is the result of hybridization and the orange flower bears a rather striking resemblance to the Tiger Lily flower.

The amaryllis grows from a large, multi-layered bulb that is very similar in appearance to the onion. The lily grows from a bulb that is highly segmented or a cluster of bulblets.

The amaryllis has leaves (known as straps) that are long and wide originating from the top of the bulb and blooms from a long bloom stalk that emanates from the mother bulb. The lily has short narrow, pointed leaves that stem off of a tall stem that originates with the bulb. The elegant and fragrant lily flowers appear at the top of this long stem.

The amaryllis is propagated from seed, offsets and surgical bulb division. Each cut segment must include tissue from both the leaf and root plates. The lily can be propagated from seed or bulblets. Small bulblets appear along the stem growing underground. The bulblets can be carefully removed, planted and nurtured into mature bulbs capable of producing new mother plants.

The lily that you are enjoying now was forced to bloom during the Easter period, especially for the occasion. However, you can continue to enjoy the beauty of the plant year after year by transplanting it into your garden, once the last blooms have withered.

As with most plants on the Texas Upper Gulf Coast, prepare a bed site that is well-drained and preferably raised. Select a sunny location that is rich in organic matter. If you are mixing the planting soil, use one part soil, one part peat moss or compost and one part perlite, vermiculite or sharp sand. Dig a hole that is sufficiently large to spread out the roots pointing down.

Plant the bulb three inches below the top of the soil, then round up an additional three inch mound of soil on top. Water in the planter mix immediately after planting to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. If planting more than one bulb, take care to space them at least 12-18 inches apart.

When the original plant stalk and leaves begin to die back, cut them off even with the ground. This will soon promote new growth. You may see flowering again in late summer but the normal bloom season will be the following June or July. One of our Galveston County Master Gardeners reports that her Easter lily in her garden typically blooms during the second week of May around Mother's Day!

Continue to keep the soil uniformly moist and fertilize every 6-8 weeks with a balanced fertilizer such as a slow release Osmocote. Keep the plant well-mulched to cool the roots and conserve moisture between watering. Add to your beauty and ease of maintenance by planting a "living mulch" of shallow-rooted ground cover such as Australian violets, primulas, or violas.


The dominant flower color of amaryllis growing in local landscapes is red. Other flower colors include a mix of red and white, pink and white. Shown above is the variety "Apple Blossom."		The Easter lily adapts well to our Texas Upper Gulf Coast growing environment. The normal bloom season will be during June or July. One of our Galveston County Master Gardeners reports that the Easter lily in her garden typically blooms during the second week of May around Mother's Day! The above photo was taken on May 5, 2004.