The Thin Line

A current (and excellent) example of the ‘Picotee’ clan. It can sport narrower tepals at times and a variable red center eye. All tepals have at least some red edge; minimal spotting keeps it quite pristine and impressive.

One of the most perplexing cultivar groups in all Hippeastum-dom belong to the several selections flying under the name ‘Picotee’. Throw in a couple of other offerings that work on similar ground (white with thin red piping) such as ‘President Johnson’ and you have confusion that borders on batty. While others were apparently breeding such types prior to the 1950’s, it was the Ludwig company that officially registered the name ‘Picotee’ in 1958. Shortly thereafter, the company released different variants as ‘Red Lining’ and ‘Picotee Petticoat’, perhaps realizing the original had some shortcomings.

This type may represent clones such as ‘Bob Ross’ or ‘Red Lining’ or even ‘Picotee Petticoat’, but it is still sold as “plain” ‘Picotee’ in the marketplace. Full and fairly large, with extra blushing of red on the flower face and backside. The lime heart is diffuse, and no red eye is present.

Currently there are probably about five amaryllis clones sporting pure white flowers edged to some extent in red, sometimes with a bit of extra red flushing, spotting or flecking. All are sold interchangeably.

Though sold as ‘Picotee’ and ‘Picotee Petticoat’, this is the form most often found as ‘President Johnson’ and is recognized as such by this website. Large, full flowers of bright white have various, but often skimpy amounts of red stitching at the edges rather than solid lines. Some blushing of red can also appear on the back of the flowers when grown in strong light.

It seems clear that ‘President Johnson’ as registered is of the largest types (most “Picotee” clones sport decidedly small-midsize flowers). Brought to us by Oudendam, who also produced the large classic white ‘Christmas Gift’, so perhaps it stems from the same breeding program. It certainly adds to the fray, and its type is sold as ‘Picotee’ as often as some other clones are sold as ‘President Johnson’.

This type pops up often, and is mid sized in bloom, and rather stiff and triangular in form. Flowers are perched slightly upward to straight out. Red margins are scanty, and often absent on the inner three tepals, though blushes of red appear on the back of some tepals. A hint of a red eye exists center.

The interest in these beautiful selections apparently caught the eye of popular American artist/teacher Bob Ross who painted a version with bold red edges on a ruffled white flower. In 1997 Leo Berbee honored him posthumously by naming a picotee cultivar after him. Knowing the work of Mr. Ross, it certainly it must have been of the type with more, not less red marking!

Showing up in 2013, this delightful ‘Picotee’ variant may well be Penning’s ‘Picasso’. (ed. it is!) Medium sized bloom with pretty uniform red edges also sport some rose red blushing by way of many tiny pixel like dots on the flower face. A tight red eye is also present. At last, it was registered in 2018 and now sells deservedly well!

It is clear that these pristine white clones with various amounts of red edging are beloved by consumers, as offerings of ‘Picotee’ perennially sell out at many supply houses. They certainly make for an elegant presentation, and most would agree they are equally as refined as they are showy. Taking the theme into ever grander territory, Marko Penning has created a suite of Picotee based hybrids that are wonderfully exemplified by the likes of ‘Showmaster’ and ‘Temptation’. Other breeders have responded to their deserved popularity with hybrids such as Berbée Amarylliscultures’ ‘Stardust’ and generously speckled ‘Spotlight’ by Amaryl C.V. It should come as no surprise that new versions of Picotee will continue to emerge; lately Penning has shown ‘Picasso’ on its website for example. It appears this clone may already be in circulation under the ‘Picotee’ umbrella. Veronica Read’s book also (wisely) treats ‘Picotee’ as a rather fluid group rather than a distinct individual clone, which was welcome reading in light of the bevy of different versions Emaryllis has encountered over the years.

Add the presence of Andre Barnhoorn’s ‘Stips and Stripes’ on the stock photo sites, and it seems clear that both new variants on the original Picotee theme as well as clearly influenced hybrids will be delighting new generations of amaryllis fans, wether their flowers stay neatly between the lines or not.

The Thin Line

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