How Do I Pick the Right Amaryllis Flower Bulbs?

I want to plant some Amaryllis bulbs for Christmas, but how do I know which are good? Big ones, small ones? should they have started to sprout so I know they’re good? How many bulbs should I plant in a pot?

Hi Sandee,

Usually, the bigger the size of an amaryllis bulb the greater the number of stems and flowers it produces. All bulbs store the plant energy so the bigger the bulb, the more energy there is to help the plant grow thicker stems, more leaves , and bigger flowers.

The biggest bulbs are the oldest and the most expensive, but they will give you the largest flowers. They will also send up multiple stems weeks apart so you’ll have  more flowers for a longer period of time..

Regular sized amaryllis bulbs are less expensive with smaller flowers; but you can put a 2 or 3 in a single pot to create a pretty arrangement. Usually with the really large bulbs, one per pot works well.

White with red edges Amaryllis plant flowers
Amaryllis picotee

These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants.