Few Christmas plants deliver as much drama per pound as an amaryllis. One bulb, planted in early November, produces a stem up to 60 cm tall topped with trumpet flowers the size of your hand — and it does it on a windowsill with almost no skill involved. The catch is choosing between the dozens of kits on offer, which range from a bare waxed bulb to a full kit with pot, soil and a decorative sleeve. This roundup compares nine kits under $25, so you can match the kit to the person, the space and the Christmas timeline.
The timing matters more than the kit: buy and plant in early November for Christmas blooms, since most amaryllis take six to eight weeks from planting to flowers. Planted later, they bloom in January — still beautiful, but no longer Christmas decor. All prices below are typical for the kit type; check the listing for the exact bulb size, since bigger bulbs mean bigger flowers.
1. The classic red waxed bulb
Why it works: the waxed bulb is the simplest amaryllis there is — a bulb dipped in decorative wax that needs no soil, no pot and no water. Set it on a saucer in bright light and it grows, using the energy stored in the bulb. It is the perfect kit for someone who kills plants, has no spare pots, or wants a gift that is genuinely zero-effort.
Where it fits: on a windowsill, a side table or a mantel where the tall stem can be a focal point. Red is the classic Christmas colour, and the wax coating means it can sit on furniture without a saucer. The trade-off: a waxed bulb rarely reblooms, so treat it as a one-season show — which, for Christmas decor, is exactly what you want. Shop red waxed amaryllis bulbs
2. The red and white duo kit
Why it works: two bulbs in one box solve the "one stem looks lonely" problem and give you a matched pair for either side of a mantel, a fireplace or a front door. Red and white is the most versatile Christmas pairing — it works with any existing decor, from traditional to minimal — and the two bulbs usually bloom within a week of each other for a coordinated display.
Where it fits: flanking a mantel, on either end of a windowsill, or as a pair of gifts split between two recipients. Duo kits are also the best value per bulb in this roundup, since the packaging and shipping are shared. Check that both bulbs are the same size grade; a large and a small bulb in one box bloom at noticeably different heights. Shop amaryllis duo bulb kits
3. The kit with a decorative pot included
Why it works: a kit that includes the pot removes the one barrier that stops people planting — not owning a suitable container. These kits arrive with a bulb, a pot (often ceramic or decorative plastic), and soil or coir, so planting takes five minutes and the result looks finished from day one rather than improvised.
Where it fits: as a gift, where the recipient should not need to buy anything else, or in a home with no spare pots. The pot size matters: amaryllis like to be slightly snug, with only about 2 cm of space around the bulb, so a kit pot is usually better sized than a random pot from the cupboard. After blooming, the pot can be reused for the next bulb — making this the kit that keeps giving. Shop amaryllis kits with decorative pots
4. The triple-bulb statement kit
Why it works: three bulbs planted together in one wide container produce a display that looks like a florist made it — multiple stems at different heights, a mass of huge flowers, and a centrepiece that dominates a room. This is the kit for the person whose Christmas decor is the main event, not an accent.
Where it fits: as a dining-table centrepiece (kept low enough to see over once the stems grow), on a hall console, or in a large window. Plant the bulbs in a triangle, not a row, so the display looks full from every angle, and stake the stems early — three heavy flower heads on tall stems will lean without support. Buy this kit earliest of all, since three bulbs take the longest to coordinate into one show. Shop amaryllis triple bulb kits
5. The unusual colour: pink and apricot
Why it works: red amaryllis is everywhere at Christmas, which is exactly why pink and apricot stand out. These softer colours suit modern, blush-toned or Scandinavian Christmas decor far better than classic red, and they photograph beautifully — a real consideration if the plant is going to feature in Christmas photos.
Where it fits: in rooms with a soft or pastel Christmas palette, or as a gift for someone whose taste runs modern rather than traditional. Apricot varieties in particular look expensive and unusual, and they are often the same price as red. The only caution: unusual colours sometimes bloom a week later than reds, so plant them a few days earlier to hit Christmas. Shop pink amaryllis bulb kits
6. The mini amaryllis for small spaces
Why it works: standard amaryllis stems reach 60 cm, which is a lot of plant for a tiny windowsill. Mini varieties top out around 30 cm with proportionally smaller flowers, giving you the same trumpet-flower drama at half the scale — and they fit on narrow sills, small side tables and crowded desks where a full-size stem would be knocked over.
Where it fits: small apartments, narrow windowsills, office desks and children's rooms (where a tall, top-heavy stem is a accident waiting to happen). Minis also bloom slightly faster than full-size bulbs, so they are a good last-minute buy in mid-November. They are the right kit when the space, not the budget, is the constraint. Shop mini amaryllis bulb kits
7. The double-flowered showstopper
Why it works: double-flowered amaryllis have layered, ruffled petals that look like peonies rather than trumpets — a completely different flower from the same easy bulb. They are the kit for the plant lover who already owns a red amaryllis and wants something new, and they make the most impressive gifts because even experienced gardeners do a double-take.
Where it fits: as a feature plant on its own, where the unusual flowers get attention, rather than grouped with other plants that compete. Double flowers are heavier than single ones, so stake the stem as soon as it reaches 20 cm — a flopped double amaryllis is a sad sight. They are also slightly slower to bloom, so plant in the first week of November for Christmas flowers. Shop double-flowered amaryllis kits
8. The white Christmas amaryllis
Why it works: white amaryllis is the most elegant of the lot — pure white trumpets that glow against dark winter evenings and work with every Christmas colour scheme, from all-white minimal to traditional red and gold. White flowers also show up better in low light than red ones, which matters in a northern-hemisphere December.
Where it fits: in rooms with a white, silver or gold Christmas theme, on a dark wood table where the white flowers pop, or as a sympathy-season gift where red feels too loud. White varieties are widely available and usually the same price as red, so there is no premium for the elegance. Pair with a white or cream pot for the full effect. Shop white amaryllis bulb kits
9. The budget three-pack of bare bulbs
Why it works: if you already own pots and soil, bare bulbs are the cheapest way to buy amaryllis — often under $8 a bulb in a three-pack — and they give you the most control over the display, since you choose the containers, the grouping and the colours. This is the kit for the gardener who finds a boxed kit restrictive.
Where it fits: anywhere you already garden — the windowsill with the other plants, the potting area, the shelf of spare pots. Check the bulb size grade before buying: top-size bulbs (28 cm circumference and up) produce the biggest flowers, while smaller bulbs are cheaper but less dramatic. Plant with the top third of the bulb above the soil, water sparingly until growth starts, and give them the brightest windowsill you have. Shop amaryllis bare bulb multi-packs
Shop this look: amaryllis kits under $25
- Red waxed bulb — zero-effort, no soil, no pot. Shop waxed bulbs
- Kit with decorative pot — the complete gift, nothing else needed. Shop kits with pots
- Triple-bulb statement kit — a florist-level display from one box. Shop triple kits
- Mini amaryllis — full drama at half the height. Shop minis
- Double-flowered kit — peony-like blooms from an easy bulb. Shop doubles
