If you like antiques of any kind, the St. Joseph lily is for you. Arthur Johnson, a British watchmaker bred the first hybrid amaryllis bulb in 1799. He crossed Hippeastrum reginae, a satiny red petaled Peruvian amaryllis with a Brazilian beauty, H. vittatum. The latter contributed hardiness, multiflowered stems of white striped trumpetshaped flowers and tolerance for clay soils. The hybrid’s scientific name is Hippeastrum x johnsonii.
What’s in the name? Hippeastrum is one genus of plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. The Latin species name honors the hybridizer, Arthur Johnson. The common name St. Joseph’s lily is in reference to its bloom time, which coincides in some zones with the Catholic feast of St. Joseph March 19. Hardy amaryllis, Johnson’s amaryllis, and bouquet amaryllis are other common names.
What makes this 214- year-old hybrid amaryllis so special? The bulb is cold hardy in USDA zones 6-10. Each bulb produces 5-inch trumpet-shaped scarlet red flowers with white star throats on 24-inch stems. Bulbs produce 4-5 stems that bear 4 to 6 flowers apiece. Flowers have a spicy scent. The dark, glossy green 30-inch long strap like curving leaves are attractive as well. Cut flowers can last a week in a vase.
Belser Arboretum has a fine display of St. Joseph lilies.
The hybrid bulb was especially popular in southern gardens in the 19th and early 20th century but receded in the nursery trade, in part, due to the rise of Dutch hybrid potted amaryllis for indoor display. For years the easiest way to acquire the cold-hardy amaryllis was to inherit one from a relative, get on a waiting list for a division, or hunt one down at a gravesite or old abandoned homesite. Occasionally, an ad would appear in southern market bulletins.
Within the last decade, the bulb has become more available in the nursery trade through heirloom bulb companies like Old House Gardens. Tissue culture propagation by Tony Avent of Plant Delights in Raleigh and AG3 tissue culture lab in Florida has increased availability of the bulb in the US market.
The antique bulb brings an 18th century flower to your 21st century garden.
Garden writers like Scott Ogden, Elizabeth Lawrence, and Greg Grant have made the public aware of the virtues of the bulb.
St. Joseph lilies should be planted in full sun or partial shade in the fall, and spaced bulbs 12 inches apart. Since the mother bulbs will set smaller bulbs on the side creating a clump over time, gardeners have the choice of dividing bulblets in fall and sharing with family and friends. Bulbs bloom in late April to early May in the midlands.
The W. Gordon Belser Arboretum has a fine display of St. Joseph lilies at the entrance and in the botanical garden where the 18th century bulb blossoms in a 21st century garden.
Gardeners report the plant is deer resistant.
From any angle the flower and leaf forms and colors are attractive.
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