General Description/History

Despite the common names, nerines are not true lilies.
Another South African flower, there are about 30 species of nerine growing in the wild. The nerines we see as cut flowers, however, have been bred to improve stem length and colour range. Nerines are bulb flowers with each bulb producing a single stem, with no leaves, which bears a cluster of between 5 and 12 funnel-shaped flowers at the top of the stem. They are found most commonly in pink, but also white and various shades of red.

Nerines are mostly grown in the field. They flower normally in autumn and winter. Like many bulb flowers they can be forced into flower in summer to prolong the season and grown in covered glasshouses. Most are grown in the hills close to Melbourne or Sydney.

Types: Nerine bowdenii (pink), Nerine sarniensis (red).

What to look for

• One bud per stem is ½ to fully open;
• Avoid very tight buds early in the season, or fully open flowers late in the season.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool whenever possible.
2. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem with sharp secateurs and place in water immediately.
3. Preservative is essential – this will help buds open.
4. Replace water every day.
5. Do not mist as this can encourage fungal rots.
6. Mildly sensitive to ethylene. Keep away from fruit, car exhausts and cigarette smoke.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

The best known variety is the pink Nerine bowdenii, and is sometimes called the Jersey lily after the 19th century English actress Lily Langtry.

Botanical Name: Nerine bowdenii, N. sarniensis

Common Names: Guernsey Lily, Nerine, Spider Lily

Stem Length: 30 to 60 cm

Country of Origin: South Africa

Available Colours: Pink, Red, White

Season: Autumn

Availability: March,April,May