Nerines put on f ireworks show

NERINES are beautiful cousins of the popular house-plant amaryllis, producing vivid pink blooms with a faint musky scent in early autumn.

They are real powerhouses of colour exploding like fireworks. Each spherical flower head precariously holds between five to ten trumpetshaped flowers that have six narrow, often crimped or twisted petals.

Despite its appearance, Nerine bowdenii is fairly tough and capable of withstanding freezing temperatures. It also thrives in hot, dry borders or pots on a sunny patio and a good baking encourages plenty of flowers.

The later-flowering Nerine undulata can also be grown in British gardens, but in cold regions it needs the warmth and shelter of a conservatory or porch to thrive, so are best grown in pots of John Innes No2 potting compost.

The iridescent flowers of Nerine bowdenii – in bubblegum pink, cherry red or salmon tones – are produced on naked stems 30cm-50cm tall.

The flowers are long-lasting and will even keep going for up to two weeks when cut for the vase.

Survivors

The strap-like leaves will survive the winter undamaged and last until midsummer. Bulbs are available now and must be planted immediately.

The general advice is to set the bulbs 10cm deep and 15cm apart.

Some experts recommend covering the bulbs with 5cm of soil to protect them from frost. Others prefer the bulbs to half-emerge from the soil.

Whatever you decide, it’s essential that the soil is well draining. In late summer watch out for signs of the emerging flowers then, if it’s dry, give them a thorough watering and a weak dose of high potash tonic, such as tomato fertiliser.

Try not to disturb the bulbs and in time they should grow into a dense clump and make an impressive display. Covering the bulbs with a deep layer of straw mulch will help protect the bulbs from freezing in winter.

Nerines look great against dark, evergreen backdrops, in front of a wall of smoky purple Vitis Purpurea or against a border of blue perennials such as Salvia patens.

You could even poke a few through drifts of colchicums and cyclamen.

Avoid planting nerines next to spring-flowering narcissus bulbs, as they are not good companions.