Belladonna lily (Naked ladies)

Amaryllis belladonna

South African bulb that produces tall bare stems carrying clusters of fragrant pink trumpet flowers in late summer — hence the common name “naked ladies”, because the leaves are entirely absent at flowering time.

Hardiness ratings

Belladonna lily (Naked ladies) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 7–10 −17.8 °C to 4.4 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H4 −10 °C to −5 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 8–9 −7 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 3–7 −5 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Flowers February–April in the Southern Hemisphere and August–September in the Northern — the autumn equinox marker
  • Day length triggers flowering — bulbs need a hot dry summer dormancy to bloom reliably
  • Leaves appear only after flowering, persist through winter, then die back before the next bloom
  • Suits hot dry banks and gravel — resents wet summer ground

Pet caution: Belladonna lily (Naked ladies) is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Belladonna lily (Naked ladies) against your zones

Reference

Belladonna lily (Naked ladies) on Wikipedia