GardenersHQ

How to Grow Amaryllis belladonna Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Belladonna Lily in your Garden

The Amaryllis belladonna plant is a native of South Africa, where it grows in rocky locations. It is also commonly called the Jersey Lily or Naked-Lady lily.

It gets this name because its flowers are carried on a (sometimes two) naked stem(s) that has no leaves.

Belladonna lily
Amaryllis belladonna photograph by Leonora (Ellie) Enking.

The stems are long and erect, and usually bear two to twelve flowers.

Jersey lily
Jersey lily photograph by DanielaFollow; CC.

The flowers are usually pink (but differently colored cultivars are available), and can reach about 4 inches (10 cm) in length.

Amaryllis belladonna Growing and Care Guide

  • Scientific Name: Amaryllis belladonna
  • Common Name: Belladonna lily
  • Growing Zone: USA: 7 to 10
  • Life Cycle / Plant Type: Indoor Plant, Perennial

Plant Details

  • Plant Height (Inches): 12 to 24
  • Plant Spread (Inches): 1 to 3
  • Time of Bloom: Late summer and early autumn
  • Flower Details: Pink
  • Leaf Foliage: Green
  • Fruit:
  • Growth Form: Upright / erect

Belladonna lily plants
Belladonna lily plants, photograph by Leonora (Ellie) Enking; CC.

Ideal Growing Conditions

  • Best Light Conditions: Partially shady to full sunlight
  • Rate of Growth: Average pace
  • Suitable Soil Types: Loamy, Neutral, Sandy, Well drained
  • Soil Moisture: Dry to Moist (Medium Moisture is likely gives best results)

Caring Conditions

  • Care:
  • Level of Maintenance: Low
  • Plant Bulbs: Just below the surface of the soil. Have the neck at the same level of the surface.
  • Propagation: Seed, sowing them in containers in a cold frame when ripe or in the spring. Alternatively remove offsets in autumn
  • How to Prune: Not usually required
  • Pests: Bulbs damaged bylargenarcissus bulb fly.Lily borer. Aphids,mealybugsandglasshouse red spider mitemay be a problem when grown under glass.
  • Diseases: Usually pest free

Further Information

  • Can Attract:
  • Tolerant of: Arid conditions
  • Best Garden Use: Border, Container, Foundation, Seashore
  • Family: Amaryllidaceae.
  • Closely Related Species: Allium, Narcissus, Zephyranthes.

  • Miscellaneous: Non-native to North America, Naturalizing, Some parts are poisonous, Suitable for cut flowers, Fragrant flowers
  • Genus Detail: Amaryllis
  • Further Reading and References: Here and Here

Amaryllis belladonna flowers
Amaryllis belladonna flowers, image by yewchan; CC.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Amaryllis Belladonna. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Crinum, Amaryllis plants, and Sprekelia plants.