Nerine, Jersey Lilly ( Amaryllidoideae)

Just started growing these, will have to experiment more, but this is what I know so far...

• Native to South Africa.

• Likes sun, will tolerate a little shade.

• Well drained, fertile soil.

• can take cold, but will die if not mulched in cold winters.

• The genus name derives from one of the Nereids (sea-nymphs) of Greek myth

• Called the Jersey Lily in the UK because a shipment of them washed up on the Jersey Isles where they naturalized.

• Leaves are not pretty! tend to plant them with other plants to hide them.

• Flowers in the most amazing pinks or whites in autum, just when everything else is dying away - Brilliant!

• they like to be congested, so work well in pots

• will naturalize if in a warm , and well drained enough location - people seem to do well with them planted inder their bay windows where the sun warms them and the drainage is good.

Garden care: Plant shallowly outside with their neck just above the surface of the soil at 10 - 15cm intervals from April onwards. They are happiest in a dense clump, so once planted avoid disturbing the roots and only lift and divide them when they have outgrown their alloted space

Grow some of your own: