Luther Burbank's New Giant Amaryllis 
(Hippeastrum Hybridum) 
The genus Amaryllis contains about 
fifty species according to most botanists. 
All are classified as tropical South Ameri- 
can bulbous plants. Mr. Burbank's col- 
lectors in the Cordilleran Andes sent him 
many beautiful dwarf Hippeastrums from 
the far South in Chili in the botanically 
unexplored Patagonian forests. These 
plants are much hardier than those gen- 
erally known. 
Thirty years ago Mr. Burbank com- 
menced to work on the Hippeastrums, or 
Amaryllis, as they are more commonly 
called. Some of the ordinary kinds of his 
seedlings have been introduced. The best 
varieties were retained for increase and 
to name and introduce later. 
These new and better varieties are now 
offered. They are the cream of hundreds 
of thousands of plants which have been 
produced and developed during all these 
years. 
All who have seen these new plants at 
Santa Rosa in bloom agree that they are 
the finest in existence without exception. 
Dr. deVries of Amsterdam, Holland, 
perhaps the leading botanist of the world, 
declares that the new Giant Hybrid Am- 
aryllis created by Mr. Burbank are su- 
perior to the lillies of Holland. 
This rare collection is now being offered 
for the first time and with the exception 
of ourselves, no one in this world possesses 
a single bulb of any of the varieties listed 
in this book. 
The New Burbank Giant Hybrid Am- 
aryllis produce enormous bulbs, enormous 
flowers and generally multiply much more 
rapidly by off-set than any ordinary 
Amaryllis. 
The lasting qualities of this new strain 
is remarkable. The flowers when cut 
often last from ten to twelve days. 
Mr. Burbank declares the Amaryllis is 
one of the most magnificent of all grow- 
ing plants — especially the New Giant Hy- 
brid varieties. It produces blooms from 
one to three feet in circumference with 
the most gorgeously brilliant crimson 
and rose shades, and flaked and striped 
with purple and white. 
In California and like climates, the Am- 
aryllis thrives when left out of doors 
throughout the year. In colder climates 
it must be taken up during the winter or 
grown in pots. In planting, whether out 
of doors or in the house, the bulbs should 
be covered well up to the neck of the 
bulb, and not planted as deep as Gladio- 
lus or other bulbs. 
A good, rich, well-drained soil in a 
sunny location is the best. In any case 
the soil must be well drained, but it may 
thrive with a great amount of water. 
Formerly a good Amaryllis which bore 
two or three flowers with a diameter of 
two to five inches was considered to be a 
superior plant. The New Burbank Giant 
Hybrid Amaryllis produces stocks which 
contain six or eight flowers to each stock. 
And if the bulb is strong it is often the 
case that flowers up to three feet in cir- 
cumference appear. 
People have traveled hundreds of miles 
to see these new varieties. 
Descriptions given here are brief but 
accurate. The bulbs will produce flowers 
as described or even better if well cared 
for. 
The New Burbank Giant Amaryllis 
"Martinique" 
A remarkable new Hybrid of the Spre- 
kelia Pormosissima or Jacobean Lily 
with Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) Vittata 
one of the most unique hybrids which has 
been produced among the bulbous plants. 
The flowers are fiery crimson — like those 
of the Jacobean Lily but very much larger. 
These blooms are nine inches in diameter 
and are even more remarkable for their 
long curious twisted petals which give the 
flower a strange appearance and which 
is not found anywhere among the Amaryl- 
lidae. 
