Wax Amaryllis as a Christmas Gift: Why It Works and When to Order
By Vitaliy Tonenchuk, Dutch Bulbs B.V. Updated 2 November 2026.
Wax amaryllis bulbs have become one of the most visible Christmas plant gifts of the season. Ideal Home has run a guide to them as a low-maintenance Christmas houseplant, and reports that one Edinburgh retailer, grow urban, saw its wax amaryllis sales rise by more than 500% between Christmas 2024 and 2025. That is one shop’s figure, but it matches what we see: people like a gift that looks finished on day one and keeps changing for weeks.
Quick answer: A wax amaryllis makes a good Christmas gift because the recipient has almost nothing to do: the wax holds the moisture, no pot or soil is needed, and it flowers in three to six weeks. It is not suitable for homes with cats or dogs, because amaryllis is toxic to pets. For flowers on Christmas Day, the bulb should be placed by mid-November.
Why does a wax amaryllis work as a gift?
A potted plant comes with obligations: watering, checking, the worry about doing it right. A wax amaryllis has none. Ideal Home calls waxed bulbs a perfect gift for people who struggle with houseplants, and that is the point: you are giving a display, not a responsibility. The gift arrives looking like a coloured decorative object, and over the following weeks a tall stem rises, buds form and large trumpet flowers open.
Who is it right for, and who is it not?
| Recipient | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Someone who “kills every plant” | Ideal: there is no watering to get wrong |
| Renters and small homes | Ideal: no pot, soil or permanent plant |
| Older relatives who love flowers | Ideal: nothing to lift or repot |
| Colleagues and neighbours | Good: considered without being extravagant |
| Households with cats or dogs | Not suitable: amaryllis is toxic to pets. Ask first. |
When should you order?
A wax amaryllis flowers three to six weeks after it is placed in a bright, warm spot, and the flowers last two to three weeks. Warmth speeds it and cool slows it, as University of Wisconsin Extension Master Gardeners note.
| You want | What to do |
|---|---|
| Flowers on Christmas Day | Have the bulb placed by about 13 November |
| Flowers through December | Give two bulbs, placed a week or two apart |
| A gift opened on Christmas Day | Order any time; it flowers in January, in the darkest weeks |
Glitter Gold Wax Amaryllis – 2 bulbs · €33.71
Two bulbs per pack: give both, or keep one and give one. Arrives ready to place, no unpacking or instructions needed.
Shop Glitter Gold → See all colours
We ship within the EU.
How do you present it?
A bulb on tissue paper in a small box, or in a paper bag with dried botanicals, with one line on a card: “Place in a bright spot at room temperature. It will flower on its own in three to six weeks.” More ideas in five ways to display wax amaryllis.
Frequently asked questions
How does a wax amaryllis work?
The bulb is coated in coloured wax that holds the moisture it needs. The recipient places it in a bright spot; the stem grows and blooms on its own.
What if it is slow to start?
Usually the room is too cool or too dark. See wax amaryllis not growing.
Is the wax bad for the environment?
It is a trade-off. We explain it honestly in are wax amaryllis bulbs bad for the environment?🎄 All amaryllis →
