Nerine undulata (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 70cm
Eventual Spread: 25cm
Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Nerine undulata is an almost evergreen perennial bulb. Its mid green glossy leaves are strap shaped with entire margins, up to 40cm long and 1cm broad. Its new leaves appear around the time if flowering, when its old leaves yellow and die off. Its pink flowers are trumpet shaped with winged, wavy petals, appear as a loose umbles at the end of flowering spikes in groups of up to 12 and are up to 15cm across. The bulb itself may achieve a diameter of 14cm.
Nerine undulata Flower (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Nerine undulata, commonly known as the Nerine, Seeroogblom or Berglelie, is native to Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In its native habitat it grows in open grasslands in wetlands.
The etymological root of the binomial name Nerine is named after the daughter of the Greek mythical creature Nereus, a sea nymph. Undulata
The landscape architect may find Nerine undulata useful as an autumn flowering bulb for stoney soils or rockeries. Once established this bulb is drought tolerant. Once established this bulb resents being moved. These bulbs flower best when they are crowded.
Ecologically, Nerine undulata flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given the variety Nerine undulata ‘Alba’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2012.
Nerine undulata Leaf (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Nerine undulata prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Nerine undulata requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided after flowering, the new clumps may take a few years to recover.