How to Grow Amaryllis from Seed

How to Grow Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) from Seed

The large, eye catching blooms of amaryllis, Hippeastrum x hybridum, can add astonishing color to the garden and make for perfect indoor displays.

Suitable for outdoor cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, the flowers can be forced to bloom indoors and are a popular addition to winter holiday decor.

Amaryllis can be propagated by the home gardener in a three ways: separating offsets, dividing bulbs, and growing from seed.

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In this article, we will discuss how to propagate amaryllis from seed, and the advantages of doing so.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Starting these dramatic flowers from seed is certainly a process, as it can take from three to five years for the plant to bloom, depending on the variety.

Since some types of amaryllis are expensive or can be hard to find, collecting seeds from existing plants may make sense.

However, you need to keep in mind that most of these plants are hybrids, and the seeds you collect will not produce true to the parent plant, but may exhibit some of its characteristics.

Since amaryllis hybridize easily, by cross pollinating and collecting seeds from your own plants, you can easily create brand new, unique varieties!

If you want to produce a clone of a parent plant, then you should consider bulb re-sectioning or separating offsets, check out our guide to learn more.

Since seeds aren’t widely available on the market, the best way to obtain them is from other growers or by pollinating and hybridizing your own flowers.

Flowers grown outdoors are likely to be pollinated naturally