Nerines put on a wonderful display of lily-like flowers in late autumn, in shades of pink and red. They work well in both borders and containers and make great cut flowers, too.
The strappy foliage looks good in spring. Most nerines are tender and need to be grown in a greenhouse, but Nerine bowdenii is hardy in warmer areas of the UK.
Take a look at our step-by-step guide to growing nerines, below.
Where to plant nerines
True to their South African origins, nerines require a dry, sunny location to thrive and are happy in poor soil. Many are tender greenhouse bulbs, but Nerine bowdenii is hardy in warmer areas of the UK. For best results grow outdoors in well-drained soil in full sun, ideally sheltered by a south-or west-facing wall. They will not flower in shaded situations, and rich soils will encourage leaves rather than flowers. They are also suitable for growing in containers.
How to plant nerines
Plant Nerine bowdenii bulbs in autumn or early winter. Prepare the soil by adding plenty of grit for drainage and plant bulbs just below the surface, 7-10cm apart. Mulch for the first winter until established and expect to wait a year or so for the bulbs to flower prolifically. They also grow very well in pots.
Nerines can also be grown from seed. Use a mix of seed compost and grit. Sow seeds thinly in a tray and cover lightly with compost. The seeds need heat to germinate, 10-13°C. Water and keep warm. After a year, the small new bulbs can be potted on into individual pots and will take about 3-5 years to flower.
Looking after nerines
Cut back flower heads if you are not planning to save the seed and clear any foliage once it has died back and the bulbs go into dormancy. Nerines tend to form large clumps over time and these need to be divided periodically to maintain the flowering of the plant. The best time to do this is in spring and early summer.
Propagating nerines
Nerines can be propagated by division or by collecting seed. Seed should be sown as soon as it is ripe. Lift congested clumps in early summer and divide to create smaller clumps or to separate bulbs.
Video: Lifting and dividing nerines
Nerines: problem solving
Nerine undulata (Flexuosa Group) are prone to weather and slug damage as flowers appear in early winter.
Five nerines to try
- Nerine bowdenii ‘Patricia’ – with pretty pale pink blooms on sturdy stems, it looks great in a late summer border or indoors as a cut flower
- Nerine bowdenii ‘Alba’ – crisp, pure-white, star-shaped blooms appear on sturdy stems. It makes a fantastic addition to the late summer border, or an excellent cut flower
- Nerine bowdenii ‘Fenwicks Variety’ – the sturdy stem bear clusters of up to 12 pink blooms in autumn
- Nerine bowdenii ‘Kathleen Pollock’ – is one of the cultivars with striking red flowers. It works well in a mixed herbaceous border and makes an excellent cut flower
- Nerine undulata – is a species with delicate pinkish-purple flowers that appear even later than bowdenii varieties in November-December. It requires the same dry, sunny growing conditions, but due to late flowering, it’ll need protection over winter in colder regions
