Arguably the most desirable autumn flowers, nerines and amaryllis bear gorgeous lily-like flowers on 60cm bare stems in early-to-late autumn, weeks before their grassy leaves arise to brave winter conditions. They shelter underground from summer heat to repeat the performance the following autumn. They make very effective cut flowers.
Read Next Why encouraging insects in your garden is so important Nerines come from South Africa. The best outdoor type for gardens is Nerine bowdenii, which does not send up its leaves until spring. Others – Nerine sarniensis , for example – are also beautiful but need greenhouse protection over the winter as they rather rashly expose their foliage in the depths of the season .
N. bowdenii is hardy in all but the coldest UK gardens. These slightly mysterious flowers , in reds, whites and pinks, are triggered by cooling late-summer conditions.
They are treasures for any well-drained soil in sheltered spots in sheltered gardens, and as potted greenhouse plants where harsher conditions occur. Traditionally they are planted in front of a sunny wall, but that is not essential. When fully exposed to the weather, their winter leaves are liable to be “nipped” by cold.
In cold gardens, a scattering of straw is traditionally used to protect from frosts. As nerines are not plants of arid regions, summer watering to keep soil moist is helpful. They don’t need “baking” in dry, sunny soil as is sometimes suggested.
Adding liquid fertiliser every.