Updated/Fact-Chacked on September 1, 2021 by John
Full Name: Nerine Bowdenii
Plant: May, June
Flower: September, October, November
Cut Back: December
Varieties: Nerine bowdenii ‘Alba’, Nerine bowdenii ‘Fenwicks Variety’ Nerine undulata, Nerine bowdenii ‘Patricia’
Garden enthusiasts are always on the lookout for the unique flowers to add to their collection. If you’re in the United Kingdom, you might want to check out Nerine Plants. Nerines are also autumn flowering plants and much needed to add some colour to your garden after summer has ended.
These are plants that originated from South Africa and are from bulbs that produce really thin and curly petals that look quite different from other flowers.
They are actually more commonly known as nerine lily bulbs and you won’t have a hard time growing them if you’re used to caring for summer blooming bulbs. Also, there are almost up to 30 species of these bulbs.
If you’re trying to look for seeds, you can search the term Bowden Lily because this is its common name.
What is the best way to plant nerines?
Because these plants are from South Africa, it’s best to plant them in a similar climate. Dry soil is best in a pot placed somewhere sunny. So this means you’re going to need a pot with good drainage and familiarize yourself with spots that are sunny. There is a chance that they won’t flower at all when they are under shade but they do make great house plants because they thrive in pots.
Get the bulbs and plant it so a little bit of it still shows. If you don’t have bulbs, you may also use seeds. Sow the seeds thinly and cover it with a thin layer of compost. The seeds are going to need
The best soil for these plants are fertile, sandy, neutral or chalky kinds.
How to split nerines?
These flowers tend to form large clumps so you need to be the one to manually split and propagate so they can flower better.Just go ahead and dig and divide and then replant. The best season for this is during late spring or early summer.
How to Care for Nerines
If you’re growing the Flexuosa Group or Nerine Undulata, be extra careful because they are prone to slug damage and when you replant them they might not grow flowers for almost a year. They don’t like disturbance to avoid moving them from one place to another every now and then.
Specifically watch out for nerine mealy bugs. These insects have a white dusty appearance. They don’t fly and just kind of camp on the leaves and stamps and suck the sap of your plant. An infestation, as usual, can cause plant death. Take a look at sooty mould as well from honeydew. The good thing is these are slow movers and you can sit them and kill them right away.
Know that no matter what you do, there will be times that your newly planted nerine won’t grow a flower during the first autumn right away. But they should flower next year.
These plans are not poisonous and so far no toxic effects have been reported.
John Green is a 46-year-old graphic designer living in Durham. John is RHS level 3 certified and owns an allotment in Durham.