Amaryllis Belladonna
About Belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna)
Belladonna lily is a stunning plant with large, fragrant, pink or white flowers that bloom in late summer or autumn. It is native to South Africa.
Belladonna lily is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria and is found along the foreshores, on verges, in nature reserves and bushland. It is also known as naked lady or Easter lily. All parts of the Amaryllis belladonna plant are toxic and can cause vomiting and diarrhea in humans. In pets and wildlife these toxins can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distress, lethargy, and heart or renal failure.
How it escapes
Belladonna lily is largely spread as garden waste dumped in bushland or reserves. It also escapes as seed carried away by wind. It is also found on farmland near where homesteads once stood.
How to keep it in your garden
Cut all the flower heads before they set seed. Enjoy them in your home if you are able, but remember even handling them can cause adverse reactions in some people and pets. Dispose of cut or spent flowers in your green waste. If you are removing Belladonna lily from your garden, dispose of all parts of the plant in your green waste bin.