PERENNIALS > NERINE
IN THIS guidebook
NERINE GUIDES
There are many types of flowers you may implant to add great vividness and pursuit to your garden , but few are as unbelievable as the Guernsey lily .
The keen matter about Guernsey lily is that unlike a bunch of other flower species , they ’re able to easy hold up the harsh conditions of UK winters , so you do n’t have to worry about them struggling to make out with cold temperatures and rime .
Guernsey lilies come in a mixture of colours and are arrant for growing in your garden , in raft or using the cuttings as part of a video display .
N. sarniensis
In this guide , we collaborate with a few well-thought-of nerine enthusiasts here in the UK :
“ Nerines are such wonderful industrial plant for the Autumn , ply bright colouring to carry us into the winter , ” suppose Caroline .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureSheltered
Height0.1 – 0.5 meter
Spread0 – 0.1 M
Bloom TimeSeptember – December
PreferredMost Soil Types ( Except Heavy Clay )
MoistureMoist but Well Drained
pHAny
Let ’s start by look at the origins of the blossom .
Guernsey lily , also known by their botanical name as ‘ Nerine ’ plant , are a type of efflorescence that originates from South Africa.1Nerine . ( n.d.-b ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . call back March 16 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1561-1
Although they originate from South Africa , they have been cultivate on the island of Guernsey for more than 300 years , hence their name.2Nerine . ( n.d.-c ) . Royal Horticultural Society . recover March 16 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/nerine
The genus Nerine , which Guernsey Lilies belong to to , was first establish in 1820 by Reverend William Herbert.3Nerines . ( 2009 , September 18 ) . The Northern Echo . retrieve March 16 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/latest/4636850.nerines/
Habitat & Growing Conditions
Guernsey lilies are aboriginal to South Africa , which mean they are best suited to a temperate climate and can not deal with sustain vulnerability to utmost hotness or cold .
Knowing the weather that Guernsey lilies grow in the wild is sure enough utilitarian when you ’re farm your own .
They grow best when they ’re not disturbed and can be maturate in bunches , provide you supply equal space between each light bulb .
Guernsey Lily Varieties
The term ‘ Guernsey Lily ’ is often used to describe the various eccentric of nerine plants , with the two most vulgar beingN. bowdeniiandN. sarniensis .
Below is a description of both plant –
N. bowdeniiis the first type of Guernsey lily and the variety that citizenry most often cogitate of when they hear the name .
It has typical lustrous pink flowers and does well in temperate climates .
The other salient character of Guernsey lily isN. sarniensis , which shares a lot of law of similarity withN. bowdenii , being suited to temperate climates .
The master visual difference between the two is the colour of their bloom , which are scarlet as oppose to rap .
N. sarniensisis also less hardy thanN. bowdenii , require wintertime protective cover to last .
“ We have one of the fine collections ofN. sarniensisin the world , ” says Nick , when discussing his collection of nerines at Exbury Gardens .
“ These nerines bring on a wondrous spectacle in October that is just awing to observe . ”
Other Nerines
There are some other first-class plants in the Nerine genus that permit you to add a further compass of colour to your garden .
“ Increase the color image of audacious nerines by grow several kind , ” says Caroline .
Her urge varieties include :
N. sarniensis
Below are some of the better ones to try :
N. bowdenii‘Alba ’ has white star - mold flowers and is excellent for use with other types of Guernsey lilies .
It calculate great either in a container , border or garden bed ; you could also cut them to display in a vase if you require .
Alba flora are hardy , so you do n’t have to occupy about them being display to current of air / rime etc . in winter .
You should plant them in soil that ’s well - drain and in a spot that draw good photo to the sunlight .
N. undulatais another beautiful miscellanea and would be double-dyed planted in a sunny border , providing it gets some protection later in the day .
It will generally do undecomposed in soil that ’s not too pure .
Guernsey Lily Benefits
Below are some of the main benefit of originate these industrial plant –
How To Grow Nerine
You have the option to raise Guernsey lilies either directly in the soil of a flower bottom or border ; or in container .
They do well in either develop method providing they get enough water and sunshine .
“ I would advocate growing nerines in a glasshouse or a frost - free greenhouse , ” says Nick .
“ They like square , fictile 2 - cubic decimeter pot for the most successful efflorescence . I ’ve establish that this also is the best choice for their annual root development . ”
Growing Guernsey lilies in crapper or containers is quite mere , but it ’s important you take the ripe steps at the beginning to make sure they blossom well .
The first step is to replete your container with stain .
You do n’t want to be too particular about the condition or the pH of the soil ; providing it ’s not too moist it will be fine .
Dig a golf hole in the soil and place the medulla in it , leave behind an column inch above the top of it .
If you ’re plant multiple bulbs in the same container , then you should leave roughly 8 - 10 column inch between them , so they have enough way to produce .
In the UK climate , it ’s usually okay to bequeath pot Guernsey lilies on a windowsill .
This way you’re able to insure it pay off a ripe amount of sunlight during the daytime and wraith in the evening .
Make certain to irrigate the plants generously when you note they ’re farm .
However , “ do n’t over piddle , as waterlogging will cause the bulb to decompose , ” warn Caroline .
“ In the glasshouse , withhold piss fromN. sarniensiswhen they go dormant and await until signal of increase ( usually in August in the UK ) before starting to water again . ”
You should acknowledge foliage first beginning to seem in the springtime and summer , with the flower stems appear in autumn .
When you ’re plant Guernsey lilies in a flush bottom , the same basic planting procedure mentioned above should be used .
The most of import part of plant Guernsey lily out of doors is that you find the right spot for them .
“ If you live in coastal areas of southern or westerly UK , you plausibly have mild enough winters to originate nerines outside all yr round , ” says Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
“ I arise them at the home of Confederate States of America - facing walls . They flower well when they form clump , wane only when they become tightly overcrowded ( when they should be divided ) . ”
The soil where you plant them should debilitate well and not be susceptible to waterlogging .
Nick recommends Johns Innes No . 3 for nerine bulb planting .
If water supply gain in the stain hours after a torrent , you should find another spot .
Dig hole in the soil where you need to place your bulb and plant them with the necks roughly an inch above grime grade , as Caroline explains :
“ fearless nerines ( mostlyN. bowdenii ) are very leisurely to develop but you must think to found them so the neck of the bulb shows above the land . ”
Again , if you ’re plant multiple bulb , then just be sure to leave enough space between them .
Water them well after found , as well as during teetotal spells and when you acknowledge new growth .
The best meter to plant Guernsey lily is in bounce .
plant the bulbs at this metre will give them plenty of time to get established , with the first sign of growing appearing in other autumn .
Nerine Care & Maintenance
mostly , Guernsey lilies are very hardy and can cope well with abrasive experimental condition .
Still , it ’s not a tough thought to expend mulch in the winter to prevent the soil from becoming flash-frozen and crack .
It ’s also important to forefend move your lilies once they ’ve been institute .
Guernsey lilies do n’t grapple well with being disturbed , so you should invalidate doing this unless completely necessary .
It ’s a good estimation to lend some bulb food for thought or fertiliser when you first plant Guernsey lily bulbs as this will facilitate to encourage growth .
“ think to disunite clunk of intrepid nerines when they get choke off , ” Caroline advises .
“ This will give you more bulbs to pass around around your garden ! ”
Common Problems
One of the many capital thing about Guernsey lilies is that they ’re not nigh as prone to disease and pests as a heap of other plant species ; in fact , they ’re broadly considered to be disease - destitute .
Although Guernsey plant are very fearless and resistant to disease and pest , this does n’t mean they ’re altogether problem - costless .
“ Tender nerines ( N. sarniensis ) postulate to be given wintertime trade protection such as a greenhouse – and you also postulate to determine out for mealy bug , which can be an issue in glasshouse , ” says Caroline .
“ A systematic germ killer can be applied in August whe beginning growth is combat-ready to get disembarrass of mealybug , ” adds Nick .
One job that Guernsey lily can suffer from is not flowering .
This is usually because proper care has n’t been taken to provide the plants with the best surround .
Some rule to adhere to if you want them to flower are –
Although Guernsey lily are hardy plants , it ’s still necessary to control they ’re planted in soil that ’s in decent stipulation .
Soil that ’s very dry and cracked or overly saturated should be deflect .
You ’ll certainly need to check that you pull up stakes enough way when planting the bulb so it ’s capable to grow .
stab a cakehole in the soil and when put the bulb in it , pass on the top of bulb roughly an column inch above soil level .
In the calendar month after you first plant Guernsey lily bulbs , it ’s critical that you make certain you irrigate them regularly .
How much you need to irrigate your bulbs will look on the weather and where they ’re planted .
If you have them in pots , then soaking them once every couple of workweek will solve well .
If your electric light are planted outside , then you should irrigate your industrial plant after they ’re first planted , during dry spell and when you acknowledge any unexampled flowers emerging .
“ you may also flow during the grow period with a weak tomato fertiliser , ” Nick suggests .
Sunlight is equally important for Guernsey lilies as water system .
You should invest any plant that you have in a spot where they ’ll get raft of sun during the Clarence Day .
If you put your bulb in grass , then you should place them on a windowsill or somewhere else where they can get sunlight .
outside plants should be planted in a smear where they get at least some sunlight during the twenty-four hours .
