These Amaryllis hail from South America and are known botanically as Hippeastrum. The name was coined by William Herbert, an early 19th-century botanist, trained in Oxford, who likened the hippeastrum flower to a knight’s star, which was a mediaeval spiked weapon akin to a mace. (Hippeus means knight, astron means star.)

• Wax coating
• The colour coating should reflect the colour of the flower, but because this is a natural product we cannot guarantee the outcome
• Steel wire stand
• Requires a well lit, cool room, avoid direct sunlight
• Rotate ever few days to encourage straight growth
• Because they are dipped in wax the large bulbs require no feeding or watering

At average room temperatures, waxed amaryllis begin flowering in about 4 to 6 weeks, producing stalks with up to four blooms per stalk. Keep in a well-lit room, but avoid direct sunlight. Rotate every couple of days to encourage more symmetrical growth.