Amaryllis belladonna — Naked Lady Lilly

Amaryllis belladonna is a bulb native to the Mediterranean climate of Cape Province, South Africa. Commonly called naked-lady lily, this bulb has naturalized in many areas of Sonoma County and along much of the California coast, just as it has in similar climates throughout the world. The species Amaryllis belladonna is not the same species as the so-called amaryllis sold during the holiday season, which is botanically named Hippeastrum.

Summer Surprises

Gardeners and other admirers refer to these flowering bulbs by a variety of nicknames. “Naked ladies” seems to the most common name locally, but “surprise lily” is also frequently used.
In late summer months of August and September, leafless floral stems rise from bare ground. Within a week, as many as a dozen pink to rose-colored blossoms open at the top of each stem.
Flowers are fragrant and long-lasting in cut bouquets.
Amaryllis are most noticeable along rural roads where they’re surrounded by late summer dried vegetation, but they have become popular in suburban gardens.
Flowers are sweetly fragrant, most strongly at night. Nectar attracts carpenter bees and moths.
After flowers dry on the stems and fall to the ground, seeds are released and spread by wind during winter months.
The famed Luther Burbank attempted to create hybrids by crossing this amaryllis with a crinum lily to clothe the naked ladies.

Foliage and Bulbs

All parts of the plant are toxic to people and animals, including spring foliage, but especially the bulbs that have a high level of an alkaloid. Deer ignore all plant parts.
As soon as temperatures are warm enough in very late winter, bright green, strap-like leaves appear, often confused with those of similar-looking Agapanthus, lily-of-the-Nile.
Vegetative growth continues throughout spring. As the ground dries, foliage withers and falls, creating a mound of mulch.
Supplemental irrigation is not needed for this entirely drought-tolerant species.
Stored energy in the large bulbs push up flower stems in mid- to late summer.
Unlike many other flowering bulbs, this species does not like to be disturbed. It takes a few years of neglect to become established and bloom after planting .
Bulbs may be divided and replanted to propagate or offsets may be harvested and planted.
Set bulbs in full sun just below the soil surface with the narrow top or neck level with the surface.
Growing from seed is also possible but takes as many as 10 years or more for bulbs to mature enough to initiate flowering.

February 2022