Tall, curvaceous, and rosy pink, Amaryllis belladona, or belladonna lilies, are most often referred to as "naked ladies." They are one of the most foolproof -- and beautiful -- bulbs you can grow.
The reason for their racy nickname is obvious once you see them. Their pink, fragrant flowers bloom atop 2-foot-high, leafless, "naked" stalks. The large, trumpet-like flowers put on a show, with 6 to 12 flowers to a cluster. While light pink is the most common color, they're also available in red, mauve, and white, usually with contrasting yellow throats.
These hardy bulbs have a strange life cycle. The strap-like, deep green leaves appear in spring and die away by midsummer, long before a single flower blooms.
Where to Find Belladona Lilies
Don't let the delicate flowers fool you - naked ladies are tough as nails. The leafless flower stalks appear literally out of nowhere, popping through rocky, parched ground in such unusual places as highway median strips or vacant lots. Ideal drought-resistant plantings, naked ladies will grow in almost any soil with very little care or fuss. They will survive and bloom with only the water that Mother Nature provides.
One thing to remember, though, is that the bulbs don't like to be moved or disturbed. If you invade their privacy during the wrong season, they may refuse to bloom for years. If you must transplant them, do so immediately after blooming, when roots and leaves are not actively growing.
Plant with Lily of the Nile or Shasta Daisies
In formal gardens, belladonnas are extremely handsome when planted amid low shrubs or grouped in perennial borders, especially if they are surrounded by airy baby's breath or some sort of ground cover to cloak the withered leaves. They're often planted with lily of the Nile (agapanthus) or Shasta daisies to mask the bareness of the stems. On the other hand, planted alone, naked ladies really do stand out, which is precisely what some gardeners desire.
You can buy amaryllis bulbs at the Amaryllis Bulb Company and Park Seed Company.
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