It's amaryllis season again!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The purple-flowered plant is a dwarf hybrid Ruellia, a genus in Melastomataceae. They are tender, hot growing plants that need a lot of sun. They would do really well for you in Kansas in a pot in the summer. Many of the hybrids are sterile. Some species and hybrids spread aggressively via underground rhizomes, but most hybrids are bred not to do that.

I could send seed of Ruellia capensis, a small and non-spreading Baja California shrub that does well here in gardens. It tolerates a few degrees of frost if in the ground. It will grow against a hot southern wall in our summers if watered. If you stop watering it drops its leaves until water returns. It flowers all year here. Flowers are the color of the dwarf in the photo, but smaller.

Of interest Ruellias have explosive seed pods. When watering you can hear the pops, and the seeds hit you in the face.

Thanks ES. What would I do without you? Your knowledge of various plants continues to amaze me.

[Fuerte Rav]

We have the bigger Mexican Petunia here, with very invasive rhizomes, but it's a reliable grower and flowerer in our climate, given enough water, with no other specific care, so highly valued. The flower petals are a favourite food of our lizards - they climb up the plant and pull the flowers off. The bees love them as well and chase the butterflies (Monarchs) away if they come close.
None of my many plants have ever set seed that I am aware of. I propagate by cuttings whenever I trim back - 10 days in a bucket of water and they have good root development.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

And they're still coming!

[Leafmite]

How beautiful! I really like the colors of yours.

I currently just have a plain red one that is descended from a red one I bought a very long time ago.

In early summer, I would plant them outside and then dig them up in the autumn. They multiply very well during the summer. They (at least my red one) do not survive the winters here in Ohio.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

How beautiful! I really like the colors of yours.

I currently just have a plain red one that is descended from a red one I bought a very long time ago.

In early summer, I would plant them outside and then dig them up in the autumn. They multiply very well during the summer. They (at least my red one) do not survive the winters here in Ohio.

My reds are just opening now. In a few days I'll post them here.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

As promised, here are the reds!

[nemesis]

Oooohhhhh aaawwwww!! So beautiful. I just love them!

[Leafmite]

Lovely!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

One more has graced us with an appearance.