Hardy Amaryllis Balentino

Balentino – One of the first of the new garden hardy sonitini, and still one of the best performers.

These sonitini amaryllis were developed for colder climates after a branch of the Barnhorn family returned to the Netherlands from South Africa.  They are field grown in a region better known for tulips and daffodils.  Although they dig them for the winter when grown commercially, it is claimed that they are winter hardy down to zone 6.

In my experience survival through cold weather is enhance with deep planting (up to 4 inches of soil above the bulb) and a thick winter mulch.

At 12-14 cm around these bulbs are smaller than standard amaryllis, but fully capable of blooming their first year.

Photo courtesy of Emaryllis.com