Hippeastrum Herbert, amaryllis, has yielded popular large-flowered hybrids over a 200-year breeding history, with the Netherlands and South Africa currently dominating the market. The USDA breeding program is now almost ten years old, built upon a ten-year previous history at the University of Florida that yielded three patented triploid varieties. This program has focused heavily on two species, H. papilio and H. brasilianum, and over 1000 selections of diploid, triploid, and tetraploid progeny have been stockpiled. Attempts to develop a domestic commercial producer have been stymied by economic conditions, and a steady program of patented release is planned. Future directions of the breeding involve induction of tetraploidy in diploid selections, and genomic explorations of genes involved in floral fragrance and pigment expression.