Here's some info on Amaryllis...I have several outside, but I live in zone 8b. You could always try it. And plant amaryllis with their necks above the ground. I would try one and mulch, mulch, mulch. Good luck to you!

ÂAmaryllis are native to a warm climate. If you live in USDA winter hardiness zones 8-10, you can plant your amaryllis permanently outside in the garden.

ÂSome types of amaryllis do not go fully dormant in the fall. Instead, they rest at a cool room temperature of 50 to 55 degrees and retain their foliage.

Read more at Suite101: Amaryllis Bulb Growing Tips: Tips and Advice Forcing Healthy Potted Hippeastrum Bloom Every Year http://flowergardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/amaryllis_bulb_growing_tips#ixzz0akzJ8FLQ

Hi Judy, Chances are pretty slim for your zone 7. Maybe with a lot of protection, and a mini-zone 8, but certainly not now. Go ahead and pot them up, and enjoy them inside for the coming season. Plant outside for the spring-summer- fall season, then bring back in. I think that if you want a variety to make it outside. H. Johnsoni will work for you. It does okay here, planted deep(6-8") in heavy clay. Well below the frost line here. Wish that there were more as tough as this one is. Cheers!!

Thanks you guys! I was hoping to find some varieties that I could plant outside because I hate to bring in plants, just tooooo lazy. lol!! Some places list us in NW GA as zone 8 but the last couple of winters have gotten pretty cold so I really think we are closer to zone 7, I will look up the one your recommended sonador. Thanks again, Judy

The frost lineÂalso known as frost depth or freezing depthÂis most commonly the depth that the groundwater in soil is expected to freeze.

Hi Judy, I'm in zone 7 too and I lift my bulbs in the fall and bring them in. I'm really tempted to try leaving a few out but chickened out this year - well, not really chickened out so much as couldn't decide on which one to risk losing.
Alana

I'm up in coastal CT and tried growing hippi's in the ground during the summer (taking them in in September!), but found that they do better in pots on my deck in full sun. There's less competition in a pot, and I can control food/water much better. My standard amaryllises have 8-9 huge leaves by the end of the summer, and spend September thru March in my chilly basement, dry & dark. Almost everyone here has heard all about my 'root cellar, etc.

So, plant'em in pots in the ground....

--Rr

Apple Blossom is one of the more hardy ones. I live in the mountains of California and we get snow. I have an Apple Blossom planted outside next to my house and it is doing fantastic. It has been covered with snow for a week or two and still survived. It gets down to about twenty here sometimes. Of coarse our temperatures never stay low for too long. My temperature can be 32 or below during the night and then shoot up to 70 during the day.

Chere

I live in z7 about 15 miles north of Atlanta, and have had 2 clumps of amaryllis growing outside for 3 years. They are doing great. Of course, I do mulch them heavily in winter. I don't know the variety, but the blooms are red. I just bought 2 Apple Blossom and 2 Minerva at Lowe's on sale for 2.99 each. I plan to grow them indoors this winter and then plant them in the ground in spring. I'm hoping they do well, but at 2.99 each, I won't really be breaking the ol' bank account. Good luck if you do decide to try one outdoors!

Vicki

Thanks everyone! I have potted them up and will plant them outside this spring and just hope and pray they do great and come back for me next time. They are such pretty flowers. Thanks again, Judy