The development of the classification of hybrid hippeastrums began in 1934. Traub proposed a classification in which hybrids were divided into 9 categories. Videlicit:
1. Species. All cultivated species hippeastrums were assigned to this category, such as Hippeastrum striatum, Hippeastrum psittacinum, Amaryllis immmaculata, etc.
2. Long Trumpet. Hybrids with tubular and long-tubular flowers were assigned to this category. The flowers are beautiful, elegant, usually fragrant, long-flowering. Pedicels are relatively long, slightly drooping, perianth tube 11-15 cm long.
Most hybrids of this category were bred by crossing species hippeastrums with a tubular flower shape, such as Hippeastrum doraniae, Hippeastrum elegans, Hippeastrum parodii, etc.
3. Belladonna type hybrids. Hybrids similar in flower shape to Amarillis belladonna L., Hippeastrum equestre, Hippeastrum striatum were assigned to this category.
The length of the perianth tube is shorter than that of tubular hybrids. Pedicels are relatively long, the shape of the flower is diverse, sometimes drooping.
4. Reginae type hybrids. Hybrids similar in flower shape to Hippeastrum Reginae or Hippeastrum correiense were assigned to this category.
The perianth tube is short. Perianth horizontal or drooping, or erect, funnel-shaped, 10-14 cm long. Pedicels are shorter than those of tubular or hybrids of the Belladonna group.
Depending on the overlap of the petals, two subcategories were identified:
4a - The petals overlap more than 75% of the length of the petal. Petals with rounded, rarely with pointed tips.
4b - The petals overlap less than 75% of the length of the petal. Petals with rounded, sometimes with pointed tips.
5. Leopoldii hybrids. Large-flowered hybrids similar in flower shape to Hippeastrum leopoldii Dombr were assigned to this category. и к Hippeastrum pardinum.
The perianth is wide open, often flattened, horizontal, funnel-shaped, no more than 10 cm long. The perianth tube is short, about 1 cm.
Depending on the overlap of the petals, two subcategories were identified:
5a - The petals overlap more than 75% of the length of the petal. The tips of the petals are rounded.
5b - The petals overlap less than 75% of the length of the petal. The tips of the petals are rounded or slightly pointed.
6. Orchid flowering types. Hybrids with orchid-like flowers were assigned to this category. Most hybrids of this category were bred by crossing species hippeastrums such as Hippeastrum papilio, Hippeastrum calyptratum, Hippeastrum cybister, etc.
7. Doubles. Hybrids with double and half double flowers were assigned to this category.
8. Miniature Amaryllis hybrids. Miniature/small-flowered hybrids, which have a flower diameter of less than 12 cm, were assigned to this category.
9. Unclassified hybrids. Hybrids that were not included in other categories were assigned to this category. This classification was adopted by the American Amaryllis Society.
But hybridization was done not only in America, but also in Holland, South Africa, Japan. And in each of these countries, their own additions to the main classification were made. These additions mainly concerned flower size and flower shape.
According to the size of the flower, according to the Dutch classification, hybrid hippeastrums were divided into: large-flowered, medium-flowered, small-flowered (see table).
In the South African classification, musical terminology was used, based on the size of the flower, the following division was obtained: symphony, sonata, sonatini and solo (see table).
According to the Japanese classification, hybrid hippeastrums were divided into: large-flowered, medium-flowered, miniature, super-miniature (see table).
| Flower diameter | The Dutch | The southern African | The Japanese |
| more than 16 cm | large-flowered (Large) | Symphony | large-flowered (Large) |
| 15 cm | - | - | Medium |
| 12-16 cm | Midi or Medium | - | - |
| 10-16 cm | - | sonata (Sonata) | - |
| 10-12 cm | Small | miniature (Mini) | |
| 6-10 cm | - | Sonatini | - |
| 6 cm | - | - | super mini |
| less than 6 cm | - | Solo (Solo) | - |
According to the shape of the flower, they were divided into simple (non-double) and double. A simple flower has 6 perianth petals. Terry petals have more than 9. Depending on the number of petals, terry were divided into: half-double "semidouble" (9-11 petals), double, "double" (12-17 petals), super-double "superdouble" (more than 18 petals).
If the flower is simple, then only the size is indicated by classification, and if the flower is double, then the designation "double" is added to the size. For example, the variety Aphrodite is Large Double, large flowered terry; Jewel - Midi, Semi-Double, medium-flowered, half-double; Razzmatazz - Symphony Semi-Double; Benfica - Large-flowering, large-flowering, etc.
Hybrids with a tubular flower shape, with orchid-like flowers and sibistra were also assigned to separate categories.
To date, the following classification has been adopted in Dutch trading firms:
- Group 1: Galaxy Group (large-flowered)
- Group 2: Diamond Group (mid-flowered)
- Group 3: Colibri Group (small-flowered)
- Group 4: Double Galaxy Group (terry, large-flowered)
- Group 5: Double Diamond Group (terry, mid-flowered)
- Group 6: Double Colibri Group (terry, small-flowered)
- Group 7: Spider Group (Sibistra)
- Group 8: Butterfly Group (with orchid-like flowers)
- Group 9: Trumpet Group (tube hybrids).
Catalogue of varietal hippeastrums
Author: Elena Talantova - article written for the Internet portal rukodelie.net/plants. Use of the article for private purposes, copying on other Internet portals, in book publications (magazines, brochures, etc.) only with the consent of the author of the article. When posting information taken from an article on forums, an active link to the original source is required.