Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Regal amaryllis plants have been added to the annual Kansas State University poinsettia sale to brighten homes and dinner tables this holiday season.

The fundraising sale is organized by the Friends of the Kansas State University Gardens and students majoring in horticulture, said coordinator Marti Meek, a member of the Friends board of directors. Sales are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kansas State University Gardens' Quinlan Visitors Center, 1500 Denison Ave., Manhattan, on Friday, Nov. 22; Wednesday, Dec. 4; and Saturday, Dec. 7.

Amaryllis plants, grown from bulbs originating in the tropics, are forced in the greenhouse to bloom during the holidays. They can be saved after blooming, dried and stored in a cool location and replanted outdoors after the threat of frost in the spring.

A large quantity of poinsettia plants in peach, white, pink and speckled varieties will be offered along with the traditional red varieties. Additionally, Meek said the sale on Dec. 4 will be an open house where guests will have the opportunity to rate the varieties in a marketing study organized by students.

According to Scott McElwain, director of the gardens, Kansas State University horticulture students in the Greenhouse Operations Management class grew the poinsettias as a hands-on lab project. Domestic and international poinsettia breeding companies provided the cultivar trial plants that the students have grown in the teaching space of the Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center greenhouses on campus.

Funds from the sale will support the gardens, student workers and other operations, he said.

Volunteers with the Friends of the Kansas State University Gardens organization will staff the three sale dates. Prices for the poinsettias are $7 and $10 and the amaryllis plants are $10. If five plants are purchased, a sixth plant is added free.