Nerine

Nerine angulata

Although this is now included botanically under angustifolia we regard it as horticulturally very distinct and different. Thus we are retaining the old name - for now at least, so you can choose. This blooms a minimum of three weeks ahead of angustifolia, with flowers of rose-violet, quite unlike the later, white-rose flowers of angustifolia.

A virtually evergreen species with stems of up to 45cm which carry several large bright pink-violet flowers along with its tidy, upright grass-like leaves.

Easy in a fertile, loam based soil and good in a pot.

Nerine angustifolia

A little seen species but one with a lot to recommend it. It makes just a few, narrow, channelled, hairless leaves up to 30cm long and seldom more than 3mm wide. The leaves appear with, or just after, the flowers.

The flowers are held on 25-45cm stems and are of a soft white-pink toning to mid shell pink with wavy margins to the upper half of each petal. Most spikes consist of 6-10 flowers, each about 4cm long with wide, spreading petals each of which has a darker, central stripe. Flowering is in late summer and early Autumn and spikes appear with regularity.

In the wild this is limited to the high veld of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland where it grows in summer rainfall areas. In cultivation it is pleasantly easy, flowering is dependable. A fertile compost with additional humus seems more than acceptable, feeding will build larger bulbs and achieve more flowers but this is a tolerant plant.

The foliage in the photo is NOT that of the Nerine, but of a Tulbaghia growing behind it.

Nerine angustifolianerangust	£7.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Large view

Nerine appendiculata

A species little seen in cultivation or in the wild, where it is limited to Natal and the Eastern Cape, in damp areas.

In large specimens the flower stem can reach 60-80cm tall and may bear up to 20 flowers each 3cm long, of rich rose-pink with a darker midrib and base, giving the flower a beautiful appearance of having a dark centre. Each flower is held on a 5cm pedicel and this is tends towards the ball-headed structure of some Brunsvigia, indeed the seed-head can behave as a 'tumbleweed' (if you have a big, dry garden!).

Related to the even rarer N. gibsonii but with white stamen appendages, up to 1cm long and 2-4 teeth. These are 5 year old bulbs which have been grown hard. They are 3cm long and 1cm wide. This is raised from seed of a tall-stemmed, huge umbelled form originally found near Bethlehem in the Orange Free State.

In cultivation this likes to be evergreen, but may be deciduous if dried in winter. It is summer-growing, making its flowers in late summer or early autumn. A good fertile compost with good drainage and periodic inundation will suit this one well, but it is not difficult to grow, only to obtain.

Nerine hirsuta

A small plant with small, slightly hairy leaves only about 15cm long. These are borne at the same time as the flowers.

The flowers are equally small, very pale-pink flowers held in small clusters on 15-20cm stems. With increasing age, the flowers darken subtly to mid-pink. Flowering starts in late summer and continues into very late in the autumn.

A delightful little miniature species, excellent in a pot. Loam-based compost with added humus and good drainage.

It does appear that the name is either invalid or misapplied. We are selling the plant "of horticulture". which has spread in the nursery trade under this name.

Nerine humilis humilis

This is from southern Cape province in South Africa. It is a deciduous, winter-growing plant with long thin, thread-like leaves that may reach 30cm, but these are never conspicuous.

In contrast, the autumnal flowers certainly are! There can be up to 20, in hues of pale to mid pink and these are characterised by a deep red stripe on their petals.

Photo © Dennis Tsang, with permission (and thanks)

Nerine humilis humilisnerhumhum	£6.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Large view

Nerine huttoniae

The most unusual Nerine there is, certainly the most spectacular and deeply coloured of all of the species.

This is one of South Africa’s rarest Nerine species. It is known from one place on the planet - the Fish River basin in the Eastern Cape region.

It is a large and stately species with spectacular heads of deep crimson or pinkish crimson flowers borne in congested umbels. The strain offered has notably large heads of flowers. The strap-like leaves are lime green.

This is a glasshouse species in the UK, not a garden plant. It needs sharply drained compost in a decent sized pot. Good feeding and a summer rest will ensure good growth and good-sized bulbs. Inundation with lots of weak feed at the start of its growing period will helр simulate natural conditions and encourage flowering.

Nerine krigei

Discovered in 1932 in South Africa this has rose pink flowers with a green keel and the petal lobes beautifully recurved. The petal margins are slightly crisped and curled. The foliage is narrow, spirally twisting and green.

This plant remains evergreen unless forcibly dried off in summer. However it does need this dry summer rest if it is to flower reliably. Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Nerine masoniorum

A dwarf plant with a 20cm flower stem that can carry 12, white to rose flowers with a darker, almost magenta, base and tube. The petals are heavily crinkled and folded all along their length.

A superb little miniature species. Although winter dormant, it is more accurately called 'green dormant' as it has leaves present in winter. These, like the plant, are miniature and are also very thin and grass like, not obtrusive in any way.

Pot growth under glass, where several bulbs will fit into a 10-12cm pot of your favourite, well-drained, fertile, loam based compost.

The Botanical Code (2006), 60C(b) specifically cites the correct spelling of the epithet honouring Mason, father and daughter together as masoniorum.

Nerine undulata

(crispa)

Stems of 30-40cm with 8-12 good-sized flowers of palest pink, the edges of the petals crinkled and crisped contrasting with plum-coloured anthers.

Very worthwhile for its October flowers (and sporadic flowers throughout the year in response to re-wetting after dryness) both under glass or as a cut flower. Perhaps hardy but this will be experimental and borderline in UK.

Nerine undulatanerundund	£5.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Large view