Amazon Lily

Botanical Name: Eucharis x grandiflora

Amazon Lily is often overlooked as a house plant. However, just like other members of the Amaryllis family, this tropical flowering plant thrives indoors.

This evergreen hybrid has deeply veined, glossy leaves that grow up to 1 ft (30 cm) long.

It's a beautiful plant even when not in bloom. But, the star-shaped, snowy-white flowers that appear in summer are a sight to behold -- and fragrant, too. Amazon Lily flowers resemble narcissus, featuring a cup in the center of each bloom, tinged with green. The flowers are about 3 in (8 cm) wide and grow in clusters on thick, upright stems that may need staking to hold them up.

Repot in spring every 3 years or when necessary. This lily thrives in a small container and blooms best when pot-bound. Just be sure to use one with drainage holes to prevent overwatering. Remove offset bulbs at this time and pot them separately.

Give it a rest. After blooming, cut back on water to allow the bulb to dry out and stop fertilizing till spring. Then resume with normal care. Sometimes the plant will bloom a second time in fall or winter. If not, you can expect it to rebloom the following summer.

If you've never grown these types of lily flowers, give them a try. Growing them indoors is easy, and with good care, you'll enjoy their gorgeous flowers year after year.

Origin: Colombia and Peru

Height: 2 ft (60 cm)

Light: Bright light but no direct sun.

Water: Water generously throughout the growing season, keeping the soil evenly moist. Water sparingly when plant is resting.

Humidity: Average room humidity.

Temperature: Average room temperatures 60-75°F, 16-24°C.

Soil: Rich, humusy potting mix amended with coarse sand for good drainage.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation: Detach offset bulbs and pot them separately. Plant the bulb with the nose just barely covered. Water the newly potted bulb sparingly until new growth begins.