Nerine
Nerine bowdenii
Startling pink flowers on bare stems in September, out of bulbs that want baking against a warm wall.
Light Full sun, and best of all at the foot of a south-facing wall.
Water Dry through summer, with moderate water in autumn and spring.
Height 45 cm
Spread 5.9 in
Spacing 15 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 5.9 in
- In-row spacing
- 5.9 in
- Between rows
- 7.5 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Flower · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Full sun, and best of all at the foot of a south-facing wall.
- Watering
- Dry through summer, with moderate water in autumn and spring.
- Feeding
- One light potash feed in spring, and no more.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- September
- Pruning
- Cut off spent flower stems, but leave the foliage until it yellows on its own.
- Overwintering
- Hardy to -15°C; mulch where winters run colder or the site is exposed.
Through the year
- Mar–Sep Spring Growth
- Sep–Nov Flowering
- Nov–Dec Growing
- Dec–Dec Leaf Fall
- Jan–Mar Leaf Fall
Pests & problems
- Root & crown rot Too much moisture, which brings bulb rot unless drainage is sharp
- Bulbs set too deep, which simply refuse to flower — the necks belong above the soil
- A year or two of nothing after planting, while the bulbs settle in
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com