To me, your basic red amaryllis can get awfully boring. Red, red, red. Nonetheless, they are attractive flowers -- and I find myself thinking about getting one or two more of them, especially since they were my mom's favorites (she died 1 1/2 years ago).

So -- what are your favorite reds? Favorite dark reds? Favorite bright reds? Favorite big reds? Favorite small reds? Favorite single reds? Favorite double reds?

Least favorite reds?

Let's hear it for red!

I like all reds. One of the issues with reds is that some really stain terribly with the yellow pollen. As a photographer, I get so frustrated with trying to photograph reds. Sunlight or artificial light, flash or no flash, every photo looks different. The same flower can look orange red or purple red in the photo. So when I post a photo I always describe the "red" since you can't really envision the true color from the photo. Reds are also notoriously difficult to ID, since there are so many in production. Red Lion is the oldest commercial red standard and the one most likely sold in boxes at Xmas. It still is my favorite. Red Lion is also a common "pass along" cultivar and is fairly hardy outdoors, in sheltered areas where you would never consider planting the newer cultivars.

Yeah, I get really frustrated about picking out reds because you never can tell the true color from a photo! Same problem I have with clematis -- the photo is never the reality!

Amaryllis (and Caladium) Bulb Company just announced their pre-order sale today. I may order two or three reds from them, just 'cause I'm in the mood. I'm thinking Royal Velvet and Mandela, maybe Olaf, maybe Liberty. And they've got another one called Karoo. Of course, I'll have to do some comparison shopping first. We Shall See!

(Incidentally, my personal favorite so far of the ones I already have is Benfica. Oooooo, ahhhhhh.)

I order every year from the Amaryllis Bulb Company which is located in Florida. They have been reliable about shipping correctly labeled bulbs and are very responsive to any issues. It is a small company and the owner picks up the phone when you call.

Well, I will probably never order another red amaryllis again as long as I live.

Yeah, I kinda went overboard. I mean, go big or go home, right?



Here's the solid red varieties I ended up ordering. We won't even mention the ones that aren't pure red:

Bogota (okay, not quite solid red) -- cybister
Dynamite -- sonata
Fanfare -- sonata
Fire Dancer -- sonatini
Karoo -- symphony
Liberty -- large single (I'm not quite sure if I get to call this a galaxy?)
Mandela -- large single (galaxy?)
Miracle -- symphony
Royal Velvet -- galaxy

Several of those were stinkin' cheap, so I couldn't resist.

I already own (in just the pure reds, not counting others):

Benfica
Red Lion
Red Pearl
Ferrari
Queen of the Night

That should give me a nice range of reds to compare with each other! The only red variety I'm still really waffling about is Florence Hecker/Hekker. Oh, and maybe Olaf. And..... it's never-ending!

You have a nice selection which will give you red blooms over a long period in the winter.