Peter Valder discussed two autumn flowering plants with the common name of ‘Naked Ladies’.
Amaryllis are closely related to cliviasand hippeastrums. These large, pear-shaped bulbs flower in autumn. The flowering stems, which may be up to 1m (3′) tall, appear before the leaves. At the top of each stem is a cluster of six or more pale pink, lily-like flowers. The flowers are followed by strap-shaped leaves, up to 40cm long and 40cm wide. Hybrids are also available in white (such as ‘Hathor’) and various shades of pink.
Amaryllis like hot, dry conditions, so a sunny position is best. Plant them in summer when they are dormant, with the neck of the bulb just protruding above soil level. They can be propagated in summer by separating small bulbs from the side of the parent bulbs. However, it may be several years before the clumps reach flowering size.
These plants are very easy to grow, and are suitable for all parts of Australia except for the hot tropics (see climate map). In areas where temperatures fall below -5.