We defy anyone to remain unmoved by the remarkable sight of 'Ruby Meyer,' its spidery ¼-inch-thick petals radiating with cherry-red intensity, all the while stroked with a slender line of pale yellow up the center. One of the famous H. cybister hybrids from South America, 'Ruby Meyer' takes top honors for richness of color, dramatic petal formation, and sheer shock value.
These blooms measure up to 6 inches wide, but what a far and welcome cry -- more a shout of triumph, really! -- from the thick, overlapping trumpets we're so familiar with in Amaryllis. They arise on bare stems, the rather slender foliage held far down and away from the flowers, and each scape bears 4 to 6 flowers. Unlike Dutch Amaryllis, which last a week or more without half trying, 'Ruby Meyer' lingers only for about 5 days. So worth it, however!
Reaching just 12 to 18 inches high, this plant remains evergreen, and as you might expect, emerges from a bulb considerably smaller than the gigantic Dutch hybrids. Absolutely breathtaking, it is the instant star of any holiday decor, so find a very special container to show it off, and plan for its return for many seasons to come!
'Ruby Meyer' was one of the Fred Meyer hybrids released after the California breeder's untimely death in 1999. (Take a look at 'Lima' for another.) It is utterly unique, a fantastic creation that may at first remind you of the Jacobean Lily (Sprekelia formosana), but will quickly come into its own as resembling nothing so much as itself! Every serious gardener must have 'Ruby Meyer' in his or her collection. Order it today; our quantities are inevitably limited. Zones 8-11.
