Amarine

Amarine

A lovely bigeneric hybrid (cross between two genera) made in cultivation from two plants both native to South African - Nerine bowdenii and Amaryllis belladonna.

This has the basic form of Nerine enhanced by larger broader petals, darker colouring and a more hemispherical flower head resulting from the influence of the second parent.

Very garden worthy and making a fabulous display from early Autumn onwards to as late as November.

Amarine tubergenii Zwanenburg

Amarine tubergenii Zwanenburg

The blooms are trumpet-shaped and borne early in the autumn. They appear in spectacular fashion, on bare stems, (60-75cm tall) before the leaves. The dusky pink flower heads are a sight to behold and there is a discernible, but rarely mentioned, light fragrance to the flowers.

Both of the parents are regarded as hardy in the UK and Amarine is similarly so, though it will thrive best in a warm and well drained, sunny spot. Classically the base of a south facing wall is recommended. A loam soil is best, with the bulbs covered by 10-12cm of soil.

They can also be grown inside, in a decent sized pot kept under glass during the worst of the winter weather. However they are grown, they are best given some sort of dry dormancy for a short period in the summer. If they stay evergreen, or are grown in anything but the lightest shade, they might be less inclined to make flowers. Normally this is a very reliable bloomer though.

The cross was made many years ago, by the Dutch firm of van Tubergen and named after their nursery at Zwanenburg House. It was finally given a name by J. Sealy in 1968. (J. Roy. Hort. Soc. 93: 432).

Amarine tubergenii Zwanenburgamatubzwa £8.00
Flowering sized bulbs.