Monty Don, renowned gardening expert and presenter of BBC’s Gardeners' World, has opened up about a playful yet passionate debate he shares with his wife Sarah over a particular plant: the amaryllis. The couple, married for over four decades since their days at Cambridge University, have cultivated a beautiful two-acre garden at their Longmeadow residence in Herefordshire since 1991.
This garden, often showcased on Gardeners' World, serves as the perfect canvas for Monty’s gardening tips and techniques. However, within this flourishing space, there’s one flower that stirs a lively discussion between Monty and Sarah—the Christmas amaryllis.
During a recent episode of the Gardeners' World podcast, Monty explained that while Sarah associates the bright red amaryllis with the festive season and prefers not to keep them beyond February, he enjoys these blooms much longer. Monty appreciates the soft hues of pink, green, and pale pink amaryllis which can flower as late as spring or early summer, making them less of a strictly Christmas plant and more a seasonal delight.
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“They’re not really a Christmas plant at all, even if you get one as a Christmas present,” said Monty. Yet, Sarah feels that red amaryllis out of season feel “unseasonal,” sparking an ongoing, affectionate debate between the two.
Monty also touched on the practicalities of caring for amaryllis, sharing advice for gardeners: cut the flowering stalk after blooming, place bulbs in a sheltered spot with moderate watering, then allow them to go dormant from August to October. While this routine ensures healthy blooms, Monty acknowledges that many enthusiasts can mismanage timing or care, leading to plants that live but never flower.
He humorously confessed to his own situation at Longmeadow—pots full of “slightly dodgy” amaryllis that have lingered without flourishing. “It’s fine if you remember to do all of that, but most of us overwater or underfeed, then the bulbs just stay alive, and next year you end up with more amaryllis than you know what to do with,” he said.
This charming insight into Monty and Sarah’s shared love and mild disagreements over gardening shows the very human side of cultivating a garden that truly blooms with personality.