Hippeastrum cybister Mystica - Amaryllis

Hippeastrum cybister 'Mystica' is one of the most beautiful representatives among the group of 'butterfly' Hippeastrum cybister, characterised by spider-like flowers. This stunning variety bears flowers that are not very wide, but have an unusual shape and are beautifully striped with terracotta red on a lime green to pale-yellow background. The bulb produces 2 to 3 flower stems and each stem will bear 4 to 6 flowers, allowing you to enjoy this beauty for several weeks between December and March. A beautiful touch of exoticism in the heart of winter!

Originally from subtropical regions of Central and South America, hippeastrum are frost-sensitive plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, generally grown in pots in our latitudes. In full bloom, the 'Mystica variety' forms a clump 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in height and 30cm (12in) in width. The flower is composed of narrow and tapered petals, slightly twisted at the edges, in shades of brick-red and green-yellow. The centre of the flower is apple-green, releasing a bouquet of long, pale-yellow curved stamens with a green base. Four to six flowers, 11cm (4in) in diameter, crown a thick hollow stem that will soon be followed by another, and sometimes by a third. Positioned back-to-back, they form a unique composition together. The medium green leaves are ribbon-like. They turn yellow and dry some time after flowering, while the large bulb enters a dormant state.

Planting an amaryllis is a very rewarding experience. Hippeastrum 'Mystica' is very easy to grow and its growth is extremely rapid. The flowers bloom 6 to 10 weeks after planting. You can enjoy them throughout winter. Plant it at the beginning of November if you want to give it as a Christmas gift. This variety does not need companions to highlight its obvious beauty. You can plant a few simple snowdrop bulbs at its base, just to dress up its somewhat rigid stems. Ideally, position it in the sun in front of a window, for example. Cut the stem when the flowers fade to promote floral regrowth.

The use of the word "amaryllis" is a misuse of language, directly related to an error made in the 18th century. It was Linnaeus himself who used it to name the American species. However, the name was already used for another beautiful flower from South Africa. Conventionally, the name amaryllis was kept for both. To distinguish them, the word "Hippeastrum" was added for the first one and "Belladona" for the second. It must be said that both deserve this name: amaryllis means "sparkling" and, in classical Greek literature, the plant was the subject of a pastoral poem where the beautiful shepherdess Amaryllis dies of a love that will only be accessible to her after a terrible injury. From her blood will emerge beautiful bunches of red flowers. Since then, the term has been synonymous with lofty beauty.