Hashtag Amaryllis Challenge. That's right - the holiday tradition just went viral.

HODGES, S.C., Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Amaryllis' ability to grow incredibly quickly has inspired many people to 'race' Amaryllis, like this office₁, who compared their plants and gave out ribbons for the fastest-opening and most beautiful. On Instagram, friends and family have been showing off their flowers using #AmaryllisChallenge.

"Amaryllis are the perfect holiday flower," explains Diane Reeder, Merchandise Manager for Jackson & Perkins. "The blooms are amazing, and their brilliance captures the magic of the season. In my own family I send Amaryllis to moms, sisters and sister-in-laws who live all across the country. We have a great time bragging about how our own Amaryllis are growing from week to week. The little children in the families especially like to measure the growth, as they seemingly grow 'overnight.' It has been a wonderful way to share the season with my family who live far away!"

The Daily Press argues₂ that the Amaryllis is in the process of usurping the Poinsettia as a family holiday tradition. While Poinsettias are great for one season, Amaryllis are more impressive plants, and can come back year after year. Connie Nelson of the Star Tribune₃ reports that, for more and more people, Amaryllis are becoming the standard for holiday beauty, which is reflected in the explosion of new Amaryllis varieties breeders have put out over the last 10 years.

Most people cite Amaryllis' beauty as the main reason for its popularity, but a lot of its success is due to its tropical origins: these plants are already well-adapted to warm and dry conditions (like holiday homes), and they are some of the easiest plants to coax beautiful blooms out of even in winter.

For more information on Amaryllis, visit jacksonandperkins.com or contact us directly by calling our public relations department at 1-864-941-4521.

Jackson & Perkins Company was founded in 1872 and quickly became the world's foremost hybridizer of garden roses, a position it maintains today, with more award-winning rose introductions than any other company in the world. It was only natural for Jackson & Perkins to translate its unparalleled garden expertise into the finest line of living gifts for the holidays.

Citations:

1. New Haven Family Dentistry, New Haven Family Dentistry Facebook Page, January 10^th, 2013, https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.545799405432607.130077.494836217195593&type=3.

2. Kathy Van Mullekom, Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 22^nd, 2013, http://www.timesdispatch.com/holiday/articles/amaryllis-becoming-a-holiday-flower-tradition/article_3985347e-031f-5a34-9ac3-33be15694c06.html.

3. Connie Nelson, Star Tribune, December 13^th, 2000, http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/11304406.html

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141016/152570

SOURCE Jackson & Perkins

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