With their colourful, elegant flowers that grace our autumn gardens it’s no wonder nerines are still as popular as ever.
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The striking blooms range in colour from white and pale pink through to bright red, cerise and reddish-blue with an iridescence in the petals that sparkles. This is due to the epidermal cells which are peculiarly shaped like a lens to concentrate the light on to drops of pink sap at their base.
The flowers are long-lasting both in the garden and as cut flowers. Their spidery shape adds lightness to floral arrangements, making them popular for special occasion bouquets.
Native to South Africa, these herbaceous, bulbous, perennials belong to the Amaryllidaceae family of which there are about 30 species.
The varieties most seen in our gardens are Nerine sarniensis with bright red blooms; N. fothergilli var. major with lovely tangerine flowers; N. flexuosa alba with stark, white flowers and the most popular and hardiest, N. bowdenii with clusters of bright pink flowers.
Nerine bowdenii is named after Cornish Bowden who brought this variety from South Africa to England in 1903.
Bulbs are easy to grow provided they are planted in a well-drained, loamy soil, in a sunny position, with the neck of the bulb showing well above the ground.
These tough plants, like many bulbs in their family, thrive on neglect, in fact, the longer they are left undisturbed the better they flourish, and appear to flower best when encroaching on each other in an overcrowded mass.
Lift and divide old clumps about October-November when they are in their resting period and leafless.
However, N. bowdenii hold its leaves until just before flowering, and N. alba is evergreen so these should be divided immediately after flowering. Nerines in containers should be repotted every fourth or fifth year.
Fertilise when the flower spikes appear using a complete garden fertiliser.
During the summer dormant-period nerines need no watering. Water during their growing period, and then, very sparingly. Better to keep them too dry than too wet. Heavy watering during summer can cause problems with basal rot.
Nerines will grow readily from seed if sown straight after harvesting into a seed-growing mix.
Sow the fleshy seed onto the surface of the mix. After a strong root appears and drags the seed down, cover lightly with sand.
Leave the seedlings until the following season when leaves will appear. This growth indicates that the bulbs have formed. The next year the bulbs will be ready to pot on. Leave in the pot until they flower.
DIARY
April 8: The Australian Plant Society will hold its annual Native Plant Sale at the Max Fry Hall, on Gorge Road, Trevallyn, Launceston from 10am to 4pm. The sale is a good source of indigenous plants that will grow happily in our gardens.
April 18: The Australian Plant Society meet at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, Launceston at 7.30pm. Visitors are most welcome to attend the meeting to gain expert advice on gardening with native plants from the members over a cup of tea or coffee. For information on APS visit www.apstasnorth.org
April 19: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at the Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm.
April 20: The Launceston Orchid Society meets at the Newnham Uniting Church Hall, George Town Road, Launceston at 7pm.
Daily: The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, 55 Breffay Road, Romaine, Burnie is open from 9am to 5pm.
