Bring the unexpected to your flower arrangements with amaryllis. With several blossoms per stem, 'Desire' is lavish and elegant.

As a wedding bloom, amaryllis is a novelty among better-known flowers like roses and peonies. But there is no end to the romance of this blossom's tale. According to Greek myth, a maiden named Amaryllis created a red bloom for her true love from her own heart's blood. In Victorian times, the flower was given as a sign of the recipient's "splendid beauty." Though the red-hued variety is a favorite during the holidays, amaryllis come in whisper-white, creamy orange, pink, or even yellow.

There are dozens of hybrids -- miniature, voluptuous, ruffly, spiky -- and since the blooms are sold from October to April, they're a lovely choice for a winter wedding. As demonstrated by New York City florist Oscar Mora, amaryllis is versatile: tied with ribbon, it makes a stunning bouquet. Displayed in a tall vase, amaryllis sings out boldly across a room. With the stem cut short, the soft petals take center stage. Since the flowers have multiple buds, just a few will go far. This is the nature of amaryllis: generosity, the perfect spirit for a day on which you give your heart.

Below, one of the most common -- and dramatic -- presentations of amaryllis is a blooming bulb in a clear glass cylinder. Placed near the entrance to a ceremony or reception, this 'Minerva,' with some blossoms unopened, celebrates its life's journey from bulb to bloom.