Boy this is a tough one but I would have to start with Green and Saturn, Merengue, Bogota, Santos, Sunshine, Little Devil and Scarlet Baby. That's all I have for now because I have so many first time unflowered seedlings that have yet to be evaluated.

There are too many I haven't tried yet, dang, I'd better get started on building a new wing, ha ha!

But when I think through what I have with an eye to not only the beauty of the flowers, but to vigor and form, and how long the flowers last (this is an important factor IMO), I'll go with good old Red Lion; Samba; Amadeus Candy; Rosalie; Blooming Peacock; and Snow Drift.

There's a reason Red Lion is so prevalent on the cheap-bulb market: it's as reliable as the Rock of Gibraltar. With just standard care, I took three bulbs that were presented to me in November 2019 growing in nothing but water, and bulked them up to 36 to 39 cm in circumference in one season. They're pushing massive bloom now, and one has three stalks all at once. That's pretty hard to beat when it comes to performance, and that red is pretty eye-catching when the midwinter sun streams in low in the winter.

My particular Blooming Peacock wants to bloom at least twice a year, and produces many offsets that rapidly grow to blooming size. Even though I know what I'm going to see every time this flower opens, it never fails to delight.

Samba has an interesting, round sort of flower shape that charms much more in person than in pictures. It also seems easy to build up the bulb. The petioles and flowers are both sturdy so it doesn't droop.

Amadeus Candy - I've written about this one elsewhere. This year all I can say for sure is I love the flowers: double but not a messy form, and the touch of pink on white. I know whites don't impress so much, but in my house they bring so much sparkle. Snow Drift also falls into this category, and has been superior also at holding its flowers up so they can be seen.

Rosalie is in a category all her own. Salmon color with fascinating shading that's hard to put a name on, plus she's another one that seems to like the way I do things. (What's not to love about that, ha ha!)

Not quite making my Favorites list is Pink Surprise. It's a great bulb, easy to grow to enormous size (had to use a 10" pot this year!!), makes offsets that get to blooming size quickly, but at least this year it seemed like all the flowers (per stalk) bloomed close to the same time, opened quickly, and faded fairly quickly. And no, I didn't have them in the sun at bloom time, expressly in order to slow down that process. I may be giving most of these away in order to make room for other possibilities.

There are about seven or eight more that don't make my cut, one of which is too new to be assessed.

Joan

Wow! That is a tough one!! I'd have to take several from Fred's list: Bogota and Green & Saturn. My Santos died. Chico although they don't do well for me after the initial blooming (will take advice given and keep them drier ☺☺) would also be on the list. I also have had good luck with Fledermaus and Mocca. I'll add more as I think of them... Party Pooper although currently mine is in a state of decline. Ruby Star!! Exotic Star!

Donna

10? Ah noo, I can’t... :))

If I really have to, then: H. cybister, Sulawesi, Red Lion, Swan Lake, Mocca, Rosario, Ambiance, Carramba, H. mandonii and H. papilio #1804

I know, that it is hard, it's the same for me :-)) But it's really interesting to see what you say, which bulbs you like and why, thank you!

Here is my list: Rosario, Terra Mystica (unusual color, reliable rebloomer), Caramel, Silhouette (mine bloomed only one time so far but it looks good even without flowers), Sweet Lilian (the version I have that formed a cluster very fast and is a reliable rebloomer and a great performer with all these flowers and shining leaves at the same time), my Debütantin (my own cross Rosario x Emanuelle), Jewel (although I prefer single flowers, I love the texture and the color), Ruby Star, Rebecca (for me it has the best fragrance) and Spotlight. And of course there are more I really like...

I agree with you, Joan, that it is not only the beauty of the flowers that counts. I've had those varieties for some years now and most of them seem to like my conditions. Only Rebecca and Spotlight I had to buy again this year because the bulbs shrinked so much and did not flower anymore. Only with Ruby Star I have no experience but I allways wanted it and now that I have it I won't give it away.

Debütantin

Oh Anja, your Debutantin is just lovely!!!☺

Donna!!! So good to hear from you again!!

Anja, I also love Jewel for her wonderful scent as well as her simple beauty. I would keep her.

This is too hard, can we have 3 lists, the ten (species, commercial hybrid, home hybrd) we would keep lol.

Jody

Jody, of course you can :-)) But you have to show pictures of the home hybrids! I was thinking of hybrids not species. anyway. And I I must admit that I tend to keep all my home hybrids, even if they're not perfect.

Donna, It's so sad to hear that you lost your Santos! I hope you're growing at least some children...

Anja, I love love love your Debütantin

She still has a baby for you, Vlad...