Hippeastrum Hybrid, Hardy Amaryllis, Johnson's Florist Amaryllis, St. Joseph's Lily
Hippeastrum x johnsonii
Family: | Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Hippeastrum (hip-ee-ASS-trum) (Info) |
Species: | x johnsonii (jon-SOHN-ee-eye) (Info) |

Category:
Bulbs
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage:
Textured
This plant is resistant to deer
Foliage Color:
Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing:
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Can be grown as an annual
Suitable for growing in containers
Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Red
Red-Orange
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Alabaster, Alabama
Jones, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Prattville, Alabama
Phoenix, Arizona
Cabot, Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Fallbrook, California(5 reports)
GARBERVILLE, California
Jacksonville, Florida
Palm Coast, Florida
Saint Augustine, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Seffner, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
Braselton, Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia
Cordele, Georgia
Midway, Georgia
Suwanee, Georgia
Wahiawa, Hawaii
Corbin, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana(2 reports)
Chalmette, Louisiana
Coushatta, Louisiana
Franklin, Louisiana
Gonzales, Louisiana
Independence, Louisiana
Mandeville, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Morgan City, Louisiana
Trout, Louisiana
Youngsville, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Florence, Mississippi
Lena, Mississippi
Maben, Mississippi
Mathiston, Mississippi
Newhebron, Mississippi
Olive Branch, Mississippi
Prentiss, Mississippi
Raleigh, North Carolina
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Fayetteville, Pennsylvania
Clemson, South Carolina
Greer, South Carolina
Lexington, South Carolina
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Dayton, Tennessee
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Smyrna, Tennessee
Woodlawn, Tennessee
Austin, Texas(2 reports)
Broaddus, Texas
Bulverde, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Elgin, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(2 reports)
Grapevine, Texas
Harker Heights, Texas
Houston, Texas(4 reports)
Humble, Texas
Irving, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Keller, Texas
Livingston, Texas
Lufkin, Texas(2 reports)
Mabank, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Royse City, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Shepherd, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Magna, Utah
Lanexa, Virginia
Kalama, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Jun 26, 2017, Hikaro_Takayama from Fayetteville, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Got a big cluster of bulbs from my uncle in S. Carolina last summer (ended up giving like half of them away to friends), and planted them out in front of the house in the flower bed by the front sidewalk. |
Positive | On Oct 22, 2011, weedsfree from Magna, UT (Zone 7a) wrote: I thought I had lost this plant somehow. I didn't see it last year at all. This spring I found something putting out leaves and I couldn't identify it. So I carefully dug it up. It was a half eaten (or cut in half) Amaryllis. What's more, is it was just sitting on top of the soil surface. I potted it and now have 6 babies growing from that half. We had some bad winters in 2009 and 2010, lots of snow and 0-+3F, so I was quite excitedly surprised. |
Positive | On Apr 2, 2011, davidisaturn from Austin, TX wrote: This is an amazing bulb and it performs wonderfully here in central Texas. I live in Austin and a friend from church gave me a couple of bulbs about 8 years ago. They have multiplied and I never give them any special care. They easily survived the 10+ days of freezing weather (below 20 several days) this past winter and our summers are often 100+. The person who gave me these called them St. Joseph's Trumpet (maybe a colloquial reference?). |
Positive | On Oct 8, 2010, spslater from Oklahoma City, OK wrote: I received bulbs some 25 years ago from a neighbor. Dug some up when we moved 16 years ago and have divided them and given them away several time sinces then. They grow well is the red clay of central Oklahoma. No particular detailed care. Dozens of beautiful red blooms every spring. I get compliments on them every year. |
Positive | On Apr 30, 2008, dragonplant from Chapel Hill, NC (Zone 7a) wrote: This is a pass-along plant in my family too. They all live in zone 8 or 9, so when they passed it to me I wasn't sure it was going to survive the winter outside in 7a. It did! If a late frost comes, the leaves that have already come up will turn a brownish shade, but they stay alive, it still flowers, and it still comes back the next year to flower again. |
Positive | On Aug 18, 2005, bugme from Barnesville, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: This is (or was) only a passalong plant for many years. It was given to me by a sister-in-law whose Grandmother had it in Florida. A beautiful bloom and even after blooms are gone the foliage is pretty unlike other lilies. Mine is grown in fairly sandy soil and all I've ever done is given it manure. |
Positive | On Apr 28, 2005, lorireid wrote: I planted this bulb at my mother's office in Andrews, SC, in 1989. It quietly multiplied, very unattended, surviving several yard maintenance "persons". After she passed away in Aug. of 2003, I noticed the abundant planting needed attention. I dug up the entire bed of less than 3 feet square, retrieving more than 35 bulbs and relocated them to Dayton, TN, in May of 2004. Not wanting to lose one bulb, I planted them all in containers and kept them indoors. |
Neutral | On Mar 31, 2005, nevadagdn from Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote: I killed this plant. I put it in well-drained soil against a warm, protected South wall. It probably didn't get enough water. I'm still working out how to grow Hippeastrums (at least the hardy ones) successfully outside in my zone. |
Positive | On Jul 12, 2004, SudieGoodman from Broaddus, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I found on old abandoned farm in Kirbyville, deep southeast Texas. We have hot, humid weather. Potted up in 8" pot during the winter of 2003, and had three beautiful red blooms in May 2004. |
Positive | On May 23, 2004, HJohnston from Memphis, TN wrote: I live in an 1897 family home. Not sure who first planted these here, but dispite neglect over the years they keep coming back and multiply (but not invasive). They are easy to divide and a planting of single bulbs along a border will make a wonderul showing in only a few years. They last a week or more as cut flowers and even the unopened buds will continue to develope and open indoors. They are the highlight of our garden in May each year. The Memphis City Beautiful Commision has a theme of "PLant The Town Red" and these bright red lilies fit it perfectly! |
Positive | On Apr 11, 2004, LouisianaSweetPea from Mount Hermon, LA (Zone 8b) wrote: These lilies were buried under a huge, half-dead fig tree when I moved to this house. They survived. After removal of the tree, the lilies were exposed to the full, blazing afternoon southern sun (and mostly neglected). They survived. |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2003, Kaufmann from GOD's Green Earth, This plant was already established in a northern exposure up against the foundation of my home when I moved here. The home is 7 years old. It is gorgeous throughout April/May with many blooms. Prior to this Summer it received no care, and survived the hot dry Summers of South Texas with no additional water. I would definitely classify as a Xeric plant. Wish I could find bulbs for sale. |
Positive | On Jun 14, 2003, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote: One of the most hardy Amaryllis, it was also among the very first hybrid amaryllis produced. Bred by a British watchmaker named Johnson in the late 1800s, it was a common heirloom plant found around abandoned homsteads and cemeteries, but very scarce in the trade. |