Hmm, I really don't see how that is possible. Was she really taking about Hippeastrum Amaryllis. Maybe she was referring to something that sounds like amaryllis?

The only thing I can think of is that possibly where she is located the ground gets covered in snow BEFORE the ground has a chance to freeze, maybe close to the foundation.. and stays covered with snow until well past the last frost in her area...??? That can happen with my dahlias that don't get dug up each year, they're close to the foundation and again, this year got burried in snow and still are...

I was going to try leaving a few bulbs in the ground for the winter but I chickened out! Zone 5 is pretty darned cold..Brrrrrr :-) Just my thoughts on the subject, I really don't know...

There are people around my area in Zone 5 who overwinter Hippeastrum in the ground. There is a guy in Chicago that overwinters his Hippeastrum xjohnsonii outside and it successfully comes back and blooms every year.

Hippeastrum xjohnsonii and 'Appleblossom' are both said to be hardy as far north as zone 6. It's all about trial and error! Royal Colors states their new Dutch Sonatini are hardy to 14F, assuming you plant them deep enough I think they'd be alright!

Definitely plant your Sonatini's deep enough if you are going to try this. I had bought them from Breck's a few years ago, and planted them 3 each in big clay pots. I forgot them, during one of our early surprise freeze ups (THink it is the time we were cruising in Mexico in Early Dec and came home to a world of ice and snow) here in zone 8b. They were mush when the thaw came. So, no pots outside in winter...

Sorry Joshy not planting deep enough, i think, covering deep enough is the key.
Best regards
Frank

Frank, the few I know that grow them here plant them 6-8 inches down, this has been the key for them.

Thank you all for the replys! I may try 1 or 2 and see how it goes. After all, I only paid 2 dollars for them and they are making babies. I won't be out much if I try a couple! Thanks again!

Randi

You Guys are both right!! The planting depth is probably the most important but without a thick covering of mulch on the surface to prevent the ground from freezing and thawing several times during the cold weather.. which can possibly heave the bulbs closer to the surface..you could still have a problem...I think (IMH0) that they are both necessary for success in leaving these bulbs in the ground. I'm thinking that I am still too chicken to try it after this horrendous winter. Just my thoughts on this matter....

Donna

I think one easy test would be putting one in your freezer overnight and see if it makes it. Oh! I am bad. -GM

Hi, I know this post is over a year old and you likely have your answer through trial and error, but:

I live just outside of Chicago, and we have a lovely Amaryllis that the previous owner's wife planted long ago that is still going strong. She passed away at least 15 years ago.

We do nothing special to it. We water it with the rest of the yard through the spring and summer. When the foliage turns completely brown in early summer, we gently remove it. In the spring, we put down fresh wood mulch, and in the fall, we put down dry leaves for mulch.

It's August 1st, and I already have three shoots of blossoms coming up. :)

This sounds like an interesting experiment with to do with discount mass merchandiser bulbs next year. I usually can pick them up for under $3, and last year got a number after Christmas at Meijer and Lowes for a final price of either about $1.25 or $1.50 depending on exact packaging, with or without pot and disk of compacted coir planting material.

I tried H. x johnsonii from Plants Delight in-ground here, it lived a couple of winters, never thrived, and slowly the 3 originial larger bulbs in the clump died off one by one, leaving a few offsets that also subsequently died.

I know, it's said you should never give up trying an exotic plant until you've killed it three times.

I have other bulbs survive that aren't technically hardy here, including crinum, pineapple lily, and glads. It can be done.