Nerine Sarnienses Hybrids

Jim McKenney jimmckenney@starpower.net
Sat, 17 Sep 2005 18:21:48 PDT
Fred, I'm intrigued by your comments. 

I've always assumed that the main reason that Nerine bowdenii does as well
as it does here in the esat is that it produces its foliage in the spring
and it's there and growing all summer. When the cold weather arrives, the
foliage dies but the underground bulbs survive and - we all hope - bloom. 

The Nerine sarniensis hybrids I've had have all been winter growers. And in
my experience, the foliage is not at all freeze tolerant. Planted outside
for the winter, the foliage attempts to grow but gets cut back with each
heavy freeze - and I'm several hundred miles south of you. 

Amaryllis belladonna shows the same growth pattern - and although its
foliage seems to be a bit more cold tolerant, it's not cold tolerant enough
to survive even a mild winter exposed to the air here. Sooner or later there
will be a cold snap which takes it down to the ground again. 

I hope you will be able to post a picture of this Nerine sarniensis hybrid
which survived the winter for you - and that there will be an experienced
Nerine enthusiast out there who will be able to identify it. 

Now let's change topics a bit. I have a Nerine sarniensis hybrid here which
is grown as a pot plant. It's been outside all summer kept as dry as
possible and roasting in the sun. Although it has not been watered for
months, it seems to be producing new foliage. 

Should I start watering it now? Last year I think it bloomed in late October
and November.

Any comments anyone?

Jim McKenney
Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where in a good year there is
a Nerine echo of the Lycoris season.  










-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of arlen jose
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 6:17 PM
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: [pbs] Nerine Sarnienses Hybrids

Hello All,

I just wanted to know if any body else in the other parts of the U.S. (zones
7, 6 and 5) have had any luck with the hybrids of Nerine sarnienses. I was
poking around in the garden and I noticed that the Nerine I planted last
year not only survived but are in the process of sending up spikes.

I have had Nerine bowdenii for many years without any problems, except for
it's notorious habit of blooming quite late and sometimes being nipped by an
early frost.

I'm quite curious what color these will be and also to hear if any one else
has experienced this rather beautiful late season charmer in their "colder"
gardens.

Warm Regards,
Fred Biasella
Cambridge (Boston) MA
USDA Zone 6b

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