Nerine is a genus of 25 species in the Amaryllidaceae family native to South Africa. Some are winter growing, some summer growing, and some evergreen. This is a genus that has also been widely hybridized as well. For photos of some of the hybrids consult the Nerine Hybrids wiki page.
Nerines are amongst the finest of our autumn (fall) flowering bulbs and deservedly popular as cut-flowers, remaining fresh for a long time. In the colder climates these bulbs, with the exception of the hardy species Nerine bowdenii, must of necessity be grown under glass, as they will not withstand heavy frost on the foliage.
If grown in pots or containers, the soil should be a mixture of fibrous loam, coarse sand, decayed manure and leaf mold. The bulbs should be set with the neck above the soil and whether established or just newly potted, water should be withheld until the flower spikes appear, then freely watered during the growing season until late spring until the foliage begins to turn yellow. Bulbs should be left in pots in full sun or under glass without any water at all until flower spikes appear again.
These same conditions are ideal for outside cultivation and that is why these bulbs do well in Australia and New Zealand where a Mediterranean type of climate is enjoyed. Nerines rather resent being disturbed, or more correctly, will not bloom as freely as they do when they become crowded.
(Information furnished by Bill Dijk.)
Nerine was the subject of the topic of the week for the Pacific Bulb Society list in April 2003. Hamish Sloan provided an excellent introduction in two parts accessed by the following links: Introduction Part 1 and Introduction Part 2.
Nerine alta is now included under Nerine undulata, but we think it is different and so we keep to the old name. This one is in situ, near Stutterheim. Photo by Cameron McMaster
Nerine angulata is now included under N. angustifolia but we think it is different so we keep to the old name. This one is in situ, near Somerset East. Photo #1 was taken by Cameron McMaster. Photo #2 was contributed by the UC Botanical Garden.
Nerine angustifolia in the garden, originally from Mpumalanga. The first photo by Cameron McMaster and the second from Mary Sue Ittner who wrote: "Flowering in September 2004 in Northern California where it is mostly evergreen although I water it well in summer and shelter it a bit in winter from our rain."
Nerine bowdenii This species is a summer growing species which flowers late in the season, mostly in shades of pink. It is very hardy in cold climates and is popular for cut flowers. Photos by Bill Dijk and a white form photographed by Cameron McMaster.
Two cultivar forms are pictured below. The first, a pale pink form known as 'Manina Forrest' photographed by Lyn Edwards and the second a Fenwick Variety photographed by Bill Dijk.
Nerine filamentosa occurs only in the Cathcart district, Eastern Cape. It occurs in small clumps in dry grassland on dolerite outcrops. Photo by Cameron McMaster
Nerine filifolia This is probably the most prolific and best known of the low growing species, and one that is deservedly popular as a border plant. In this species the grassy foliage is thin and slender while the numerous flower scapes 6-9 in. tall carry 8-10 small spidery light rosy-red flowers, freely produced during autumn. First photo was taken by Bill Dijk and the second by Lee Poulsen August 2003. The last two photos were taken by by Cameron McMaster. The first is of a white form and the last the pink one in habitat.
Nerine flexuosa is now included in N. humilis. Photos by Cameron McMaster and Alessandro Marinello.
Nerine gaberonensis growing in habitat at the Augrabies falls (Northern Cape). Photos by Christiaan van Schalkwyk.
Nerine gibsonii is a very rare species from the Eastern Cape and former Transkei. It occurs along stream banks in wet acid soil and needs frequent water in cultivation, especially when in active growth from early summer to mid autumn. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
Nerine gracilis is native to southern Mpumalanga (northeast South Africa) where it occurs in damp depressions in shallow soil over rock sheets. It is a short species suitable for container cultivation with thread like leaves and pale pink or rose pink flowers with wavy margins and green keels on the lower surface. In the wild it is dormant in winter, but in cultivation often retains its leaves. In colder climates it should be allowed to dry out in winter. This species is grown and photographed by Alessandro Marinello.
Nerine humilis is a winter rainfall species found in mountainous areas of the western, southwestern and southern cape. It is a dwarf species with spikes of delicate rose-pink flowers, with narrow wavy perianth petals. The first two photos were taken by Bill Dijk and Michael Mace. The third and fourth photos were taken by Cameron McMaster. The third is of a plant in the garden, grown from seed collected near Napier, W. Cape. The last is a small form blooming in the wild in mass.
Nerine krigei is a summer growing species froum Gauteng where it grows in damp depreesions in grassland. This species has broad, erect, spirally twisted leaves . Photo by Cameron McMaster of a garden species.
Nerine masoniorum in the garden. It is a dwarf species with pale pink flowers. It is an endangered species that occurs near Umtata, Eastern Cape. The first photo was taken by Cameron McMaster, the second by Lyn Edwards, the third September 2003 by Lee Poulsen. The last photo taken by Mary Sue Ittner shows the thread-like leaves of this evergreen species.
Nerine platypetala This species grows in perennial marshes and has unique broad, flat perianth segments that are pale pink with darker pink central keels at the base. The first photo by Cameron McMaster is one grown from seed collected in Mpumalanga. The next two photos by Mary Sue Ittner are of plants flowering in September 2004 in Northern California. The second photo shows a bud, a close-up of the flower with the broad segments, and a seed already formed.
Nerine pudica This winter growing species with almost white bell shaped flowers on 12 in. stems and neat blue-grey foliage, is quite different from most. This species plus others are extremely good for container growing or for larger rock gardens. Photos by Bill Dijk and Bob Rutemoeller. This species grows in the ground in Northern California, is dormant in summer, blooms in fall, and grows in the winter.
Nerine rehmannii grows on rocky outcrops in central Gauteng and western Mpumalanga in the Northern Province of South Africa. It is dormant from mid-autumn until early summer in its natural habitat, but can be evergreen in cultivation. It is a dwarf species with filiform leaves and white flowers with wavy and recurved tepals and violet anthers. Photos taken by Alessandro Marinello.
Nerine sarniensis Commonly called the 'Guernsey Lily', the name being derived from Sarnia, the Latin name for the Guernsey Islands, was so called because bulbs were washed up during a seventeenth century shipwreck, and flowered so well there that the botanists first thought that this was its natural home. It is seldom seen in cultivation, but as the main parent of 300 years of Nerine breeding, it has possibly been the most important. This nerine with its different forms is one of the best large-flowered species and is winter growing. The first two photos by Bill Dijk. The last two photos were taken in habitat by Cameron McMaster who wrote: "This is a nerine confined to the Winter Rainfall region and is fairly common and widespread. These pictures were taken in April on a rocky outcrop at the highest point on the road between Bot River and Villiersdorp in the Western Cape. As you see, the area had recently burned which stimulated the nerines to flower."
Nerine undulata is a very dainty spider flower which can give a wonderful display when mass planted. The soft pink flowers are produced abundantly on 10-12 in. stems. The first two photos by Bill Dijk include a white version that is uncommon, but even more desirable for pots and containers. The last photo is of one in the garden, grown from seed collected near Bedford, E. Cape. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
