116 Species in Genus Hippeastrum

Hippeastrum: A Personal Journey into the Realm of “Knight’s Star” Lilies

As an avid gardener and plant enthusiast, I, Ferb Vu, have always been drawn to the vibrant beauty and captivating allure of flowering bulbs. Among my favorites is the genus Hippeastrum, commonly known as the “amaryllis,” though this is a bit of a misnomer. These stunning plants, with their large, trumpet-shaped flowers and strapping leaves, never fail to bring a touch of the tropics to my home and garden.

The name Hippeastrum originates from the Greek words “hippeus,” meaning knight, and “astron,” meaning star, aptly describing the flower’s shape. It was the renowned botanist William Herbert who bestowed this moniker upon the genus in the 19th century, distinguishing it from the true Amaryllis of South Africa.

A Diverse and Dazzling Genus

Hippeastrum is a diverse genus boasting around 90 species and over 600 hybrids and cultivars. These bulbous perennials are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico south to Argentina, and even some Caribbean islands. They thrive in warm climates and well-drained soil, making them a popular choice for gardens and indoor containers alike.

1. Hippeastrum abatinguara Campos-Rocha & A.S.Medeiros
2. Hippeastrum aglaiae (A.Cast.) Hunz. & A.A.Cocucci
3. Hippeastrum amaru (Vargas) Meerow
4. Hippeastrum andreanum Baker
5. Hippeastrum angustifolium Pax
6. Hippeastrum apertispathum (Traub) H.E.Moore
7. Hippeastrum arboricola (Ravenna) Meerow
8. Hippeastrum argentinum (Pax) Hunz.
9. Hippeastrum aulicum (Ker Gawl.) Herb.
10. Hippeastrum aviflorum (Ravenna) Dutilh
11. Hippeastrum blossfeldiae (Traub & J.L.Doran) Van Scheepen
12. Hippeastrum brasilianum (Traub & J.L.Doran) Dutilh
13. Hippeastrum breviflorum Herb.
14. Hippeastrum bukasovii (Vargas) Gereau & Brako
15. Hippeastrum caiaponicum (Ravenna) Dutilh
16. Hippeastrum calyptratum (Ker Gawl.) Herb.
17. Hippeastrum canastrense Dutilh & R.S.Oliveira
18. Hippeastrum canterai Arechav.
19. Hippeastrum carassense Campos-Rocha & R.C.Mota
20. Hippeastrum cardenasii R.Vásquez & R.Lara
21. Hippeastrum caupolicanense (Cárdenas) Van Scheepen
22. Hippeastrum cipoanum (Ravenna) Meerow
23. Hippeastrum condemaitae (Vargas & E.Pérez) Meerow
24. Hippeastrum correiense (Bury) Worsley
25. Hippeastrum curitibanum (Ravenna) Dutilh
26. Hippeastrum curupira Campos-Rocha & M.Peixoto
27. Hippeastrum cuzcoense (Vargas) Gereau & Brako
28. Hippeastrum cybister (Herb.) Benth. ex Baker
29. Hippeastrum damazianum Beauverd
30. Hippeastrum diniz-cruziae Dutilh & Semir
31. Hippeastrum divifrancisci (Cárdenas) R.Lara & R.Vásquez
32. Hippeastrum divijulianum (Cárdenas) Meerow
33. Hippeastrum doraniae (Traub) Meerow
34. Hippeastrum dutilhianum (Büneker, R.E.Bastian & C.M.Costa) Christenh. & Byng
35. Hippeastrum elegans (Spreng.) H.E.Moore
36. Hippeastrum escoipense Slanis & Huaylla
37. Hippeastrum espiritense (Traub) H.E.Moore
38. Hippeastrum euryphyllum (Ravenna) W.A.Medina & Roitman
39. Hippeastrum evansiae (Traub & I.S.Nelson) H.E.Moore
40. Hippeastrum ferreyrae (Traub) Gereau & Brako
41. Hippeastrum forgetii Worsley
42. Hippeastrum fragrantissimum (Cárdenas) Meerow
43. Hippeastrum fuscum Kraenzl.
44. Hippeastrum gertianum (Ravenna) Dutilh
45. Hippeastrum glaucescens (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Herb.
46. Hippeastrum goianum (Ravenna) Meerow
47. Hippeastrum guarapuavicum (Ravenna) Van Scheepen
48. Hippeastrum harrisonii (Lindl.) Hook.f.
49. Hippeastrum haywardii (Traub & Uphof) R.Lara & R.Vásquez
50. Hippeastrum hemographes (Ravenna) Dutilh
51. Hippeastrum hugoi (Vargas) Gereau & Brako
52. Hippeastrum idimae Dutilh & R.S.Oliveira
53. Hippeastrum iguazuanum (Ravenna) T.R.Dudley & M.Williams
54. Hippeastrum incachacanum (Cárdenas) Van Scheepen
55. Hippeastrum intiflorum (Vargas) Gereau & Brako
56. Hippeastrum kromeri (Worsley) Meerow
57. Hippeastrum laklano Campos-Rocha & M.Peixoto
58. Hippeastrum lapacense (Cárdenas) Van Scheepen
59. Hippeastrum lara-ricoi A.L.Moya, D.Villalba & Zent.-Ruíz
60. Hippeastrum lavrense (Ravenna) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh
61. Hippeastrum leonardii (Vargas) Gereau & Brako
62. Hippeastrum leopoldii T.Moore
63. Hippeastrum leucobasis (Ravenna) Dutilh
64. Hippeastrum lunaris Campos-Rocha & Meerow
65. Hippeastrum macbridei (Vargas) Gereau & Brako
66. Hippeastrum machupijchense (Vargas) D.R.Hunt
67. Hippeastrum mandonii Baker
68. Hippeastrum maracasum (Traub) H.E.Moore
69. Hippeastrum marumbiense (Ravenna) Van Scheepen
70. Hippeastrum mauroi Campos-Rocha & Dutilh
71. Hippeastrum menesesii R.Vásquez & R.Lara
72. Hippeastrum minasgerais (Traub) Meerow
73. Hippeastrum miniatum (Ruiz & Pav.) Herb.
74. Hippeastrum mirum (Ravenna) Christenh. & Byng
75. Hippeastrum mollevillquense (Cárdenas) Van Scheepen
76. Hippeastrum monanthum (Ravenna) Meerow
77. Hippeastrum morelianum Lem.
78. Hippeastrum multiflorum Büneker, K.Soares & L.C.Assis
79. Hippeastrum nelsonii (Cárdenas) Van Scheepen
80. Hippeastrum oconequense (Traub) H.E.Moore
81. Hippeastrum papilio (Ravenna) Van Scheepen
82. Hippeastrum paquichanum (Cárdenas) Dutilh
83. Hippeastrum paradisiacum (Ravenna) Meerow
84. Hippeastrum paranaense (Traub) Meerow
85. Hippeastrum pardinum (Hook.f.) Dombrain
86. Hippeastrum parodii Hunz. & A.A.Cocucci
87. Hippeastrum peruvianum Meerow & Campos-Rocha
88. Hippeastrum petiolatum Pax
89. Hippeastrum pseudopardinum (Cárdenas) R.Vásquez & R.Lara
90. Hippeastrum psittacinum (Ker Gawl.) Herb.
91. Hippeastrum puniceum (Lam.) Voss
92. Hippeastrum pyrophilum R.E.Bastian
93. Hippeastrum ramboi R.E.Bastian & Büneker
94. Hippeastrum reginae (L.) Herb.
95. Hippeastrum reticulatum (L’Hér.) Herb.
96. Hippeastrum roseoalbum R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh
97. Hippeastrum rubropictum (Ravenna) Meerow
98. Hippeastrum sanfranciscanum Dutilh & R.S.Oliveira
99. Hippeastrum santacatarina (Traub) Dutilh
100. Hippeastrum scopulorum Baker
101. Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh
102. Hippeastrum starkiorum (I.S.Nelson & Traub) Van Scheepen
103. Hippeastrum stigmovittatum (Büneker, R.E.Bastian & C.M.Costa) Christenh. & Byng
104. Hippeastrum striatum (Lam.) H.E.Moore
105. Hippeastrum stylosum Herb.
106. Hippeastrum teyucuarense (Ravenna) Van Scheepen
107. Hippeastrum traubii (Moldenke) H.E.Moore
108. Hippeastrum umabisanum (Cárdenas) Meerow
109. Hippeastrum vanleestenii (Traub) H.E.Moore
110. Hippeastrum variegatum Gereau & Brako
111. Hippeastrum velloziiflorum Campos-Rocha & Meerow
112. Hippeastrum verdianum Büneker & R.E.Bastian
113. Hippeastrum viridiflorum Rusby
114. Hippeastrum vittatum (L’Hér.) Herb.
115. Hippeastrum wilsoniae L.J.Doran & F.W.Mey.
116. Hippeastrum yungacense (Cárdenas & I.S.Nelson) Meerow

Cultivating Hippeastrum: A Rewarding Endeavor

Cultivating Hippeastrum is a rewarding experience, even for novice gardeners. These resilient plants require minimal care and offer a spectacular floral display in return. I’ve found that providing them with ample sunlight, well-drained soil, and occasional watering is key to their success.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Hippeastrum is their ability to be forced into bloom indoors during the winter months. By carefully controlling their dormancy period and providing the right conditions, I can enjoy their vibrant blossoms even when the weather outside is frightful.

The Allure of Hippeastrum

The appeal of Hippeastrum lies not only in their striking beauty but also in their versatility. Their large, showy flowers make them a perfect centerpiece for any floral arrangement, while their ease of cultivation makes them a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor gardening.

For me, Hippeastrum represents a connection to the natural world, a symbol of resilience, and a source of endless fascination. Their vibrant colors and unique forms never cease to amaze me, and I eagerly anticipate the arrival of their blooms each year.

Hippeastrum in the Digital Age

In today’s interconnected world, the appreciation for Hippeastrum extends beyond the garden and into the digital realm. Online communities and forums dedicated to these plants provide a platform for enthusiasts like myself to share knowledge, experiences, and even rare bulbs.

The use of digital tools and resources has revolutionized the way we interact with and learn about plants like Hippeastrum. From online databases and identification apps to virtual garden tours and expert advice, the digital age has opened up new avenues for exploring the world of botany.

Looking Ahead

As I continue my journey with Hippeastrum, I am excited to witness the ongoing development of new hybrids and cultivars. The possibilities for breeding and cultivation are endless, promising an even more diverse and dazzling array of these “knight’s star” lilies in the future.

I believe that the appreciation for Hippeastrum will only continue to grow as more people discover the beauty, versatility, and ease of cultivation of these remarkable plants. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a curious beginner, I encourage you to explore the world of Hippeastrum and experience the magic for yourself.