The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area between the Olifants River Valley and Knysna.

In the Victorian language of flowers, amaryllis means "love, beauty, and determination", and can also represent hope and achievement.

Each bulb produces one or two leafless, stout, persistent and erect stems 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall, each of which bears at the top a cluster of two to twelve zygomorphic, funnel-shaped flowers without a tube.

Alan W. Meerow et al. have briefly summarized the debate, which took place from 1938 onwards and involved botanists on both sides of the Atlantic.

[11] In areas of its native habitat with mountainous fynbos, flowering tends to be suppressed until after bush fires as dense overhead vegetation prevents growth.

[2] Plants tend to be very localized in dense concentrations due to the seeds' large size and heavy weight.

Strong winds shake loose the seeds, which fall to ground and immediately start to germinate, aided by the first winter rains.

The plant is not frost-tolerant, nor does it do well in tropical environments since they require a dry resting period between leaf growth and flower spike production.

One or two leafless stems arise from the bulb in the dry ground in late summer (March in its native habitat and August in USDA zone 7).

No one knows the exact species it was crossed with to produce color variations of white, cream, peach, magenta and nearly red hues.

The hybrids are able to adapt to year-round watering and fertilization but can also tolerate completely dry summer conditions if need be.

[15] Amaryllis belladonna has been crossed in cultivation with Crinum moorei to produce a hybrid called × Amarcrinum,[16] which has named cultivars.