Just opened my order of Hippeastrum Sonatini 'alaska,' which are promised a cold hardiness in-ground in Zone 7 (10- 0 degrees F. Or -15 celsius.)
I'm skeptical, but adventurous. Anyone else tried any of the Sonatini's in colder areas with success? I have some foundation areas that would be a little warmer, or I guess I could treat them like dahlias and cannas and lift and store them each year....

The sonatini type are considered to be slightly more hardy than most Hippeasatrums. I think that you could try the warmest microclimate that you have, possibly close to your house. I would mound leaves over them in the coldest period. This would definitely be experimental. It they freeze, and turn into mush, then try it next time in a pot, bringing the pot into the basement in the winter. Good luck.

I have the sonatini type in containers they do great, I noticed that they do seem more cold hardy as far as when the leaves start turning, but I put them in the basement during the winter, so far going on 3 years. zone 4b

crawgarden said:I have the sonatini type in containers they do great

Do they put out offsets readily?

They do, I see where you are going with this.

Mine did not live. Ohio

Im glad to hear I'm not the only one growing Sonatinis. I will have Sonatini 'alaska' bulbs this fall if anyone wants to trade for other Sonatini types. They are indeed hardier than others and the only type of amaryllis that will survive our zone 7b winters unprotected. They even survived when we dipped down to 4F the winter before last with no issues whatsoever

Forgot about St. Joseph's Lily (Hippeastrum x johnsonii) it has survived without protection also. Does anyone know if it is cross compatible with the sonatini types?

ediblelandscapingsc said:Forgot about St. Joseph's Lily (Hippeastrum x johnsonii) it has survived without protection also. Does anyone know if it is cross compatible with the sonatini types?

I pollinated them with apple blossom