{"product_id":"sprekelia-formosissima-mobile-queen","title":"Sprekelia formosissima Mobile Queen","description":"\u003cp\u003eSprekelia 'Mobile Queen' is a 2022 Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction of an amazingly floriferous form of \u003ca title=\"See more Aztec lilies\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/sprekelia\"\u003eAztec lily\u003c\/a\u003e, we picked up from Mobile, Alabama nurseryman Maarten Van der Giessen in 2011. We knew it looked different, but at the time, didn't know quite why. The narrow green foliage is a foil to the bright, scarlet red flowers, starting for us in mid-May. Each of the five narrow petals are highlighted by a central white streak toward the base, which is much more dramatic than in typical Sprekelia formosissima. Additionally, the solitary 7\" wide flowers (tip to tip), held atop 15\" stalks, aren't hidden below the foliage as is the case with typical Sprekelia formosissima.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhere Sprekelia is winter-hardy, generally Zone 7b and warmer, it is very low maintenance, needing little more than removing foliage killed by frost in the fall. It can go for years without being divided and still bloom, though a greater rate of increase can be had by dividing every 3 to 5 years. The crowded bulbs, once liberated, will more rapidly grow to blooming size.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSprekelia should be no more difficult than a Hippeastrum (commonly known as amaryllis) to grow in a container, overwintering in a frost free location in areas where it is not winter-hardy. It can be kept dormant all winter in a cool frost-free location, withholding water until spring when it can go outside for the growing season.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Conditions:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eA full sun location is probably best in \u003ca title=\"Zone 7 Plants for Sale\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/zone-7-plants\"\u003eZone 7\u003c\/a\u003e, perhaps part day sun in hotter parts of its range. Average soil is fine. Though very drought tolerant it will make use of available moisture so it does not need to be protected from wet at any point in the year other than avoiding a soggy soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eNomenclature:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSprekelia's specific epithet \"formosissima\" indicates not only that it is beautiful but very beautiful.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eNatural Impact:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSprekelia's spectacular blooms will stop most people in their tracks. It's growth habit is much like \u003ca title=\"Hippeastrum for Sale\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/hippeastrum\"\u003eHippeastrum\u003c\/a\u003e, Crinums and other members of the amaryllis family, forming a clump of strap shaped leaves with flowers borne on the top of a naked scape. It might be used as a single specimen or in masses.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWatch our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eAXEEL3fw8g\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePlant Spotlight\u003c\/a\u003e video for more information. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39536675389527,"sku":"15658","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Sprekelia-formosissima-Mobile-Queen.i-15658.s-66730.r-1_671cf037-a5d9-4b4d-a7ed-d05fac5447e1.jpg?v=1778781217","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/sprekelia-formosissima-mobile-queen","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}