Amaryllis bulbs flower in a range of bright and pastel colours; Benfica has dark, blood red flowers that are faintly ribbed. This bulb has been given the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Left to flower naturally amaryllis bulbs can bloom at anytime between winter and spring but they are most often grown as spectacular Christmas pot plants. Each bulb sends up strap-like leaves followed by stout hollow stems topped with as many as five large trumpet-shaped flowers.

These large bulbs are often commonly called amaryllis but their correct botanical name is Hippeastrum. Hippeastrum bulbs are not hardy in the UK but they make superb indoor plants with spectacular blooms.