Scarlet Amaryllis Plant Care
Rhodophiala bifida (Herb.) Traub
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Zephyranthes bifida, formerly Rhodophiala bifida and commonly the oxblood lily or schoolhouse lily, is a species of bulbous, terrestrial herb in the family Amaryllidaceae native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay. it is cultivated in the Southern United States as an ornamental plant for its pink to red flowers.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Scarlet Amaryllis?
Water Scarlet Amaryllis every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
What Is the Scarlet Amaryllis?
Scarlet Amaryllis (Rhodophiala bifida) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Rhodophiala genus. Scarlet Amaryllis is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Scarlet Amaryllis is also known as Red Amaryllis.
Scarlet Amaryllis displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Scarlet Amaryllis produces showy funnel-shaped flowers in red, pink, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Scarlet Amaryllis?
Rhodophiala bifida requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Scarlet Amaryllis Need?
Scarlet Amaryllis thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Scarlet Amaryllis Prefer?
Rhodophiala bifida grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Scarlet Amaryllis prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Scarlet Amaryllis?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Scarlet Amaryllis to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Scarlet Amaryllis?
Feed Scarlet Amaryllis every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Scarlet Amaryllis?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Scarlet Amaryllis?
Scarlet Amaryllis can be propagated through offsets, seeds.
Is the Scarlet Amaryllis Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Scarlet Amaryllis?
Scarlet Amaryllis is susceptible to aphids, thrips, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Scarlet Amaryllis Need?
Scarlet Amaryllis grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Scarlet Amaryllis is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay. In cooler regions, grow Scarlet Amaryllis as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Scarlet Amaryllis is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Rhodophiala genus (family Amaryllidaceae) — search all Rhodophiala species in the plant lookup.
Scarlet Amaryllis thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Rhodophiala bifida (Herb.) Traub, family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Euclides 13: 156 (1953)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Scarlet Amaryllis is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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