These bulbs are best planted now, if planted early enough you will have flowers this year.
- Botanical Name
- Nerine bowdenii. ‘Aurea’: Lycoris aurea
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Plant Type
- Bulb
- Size (HxW)
- 40-60cm x 10-30cm
- Depth & Spacing
- Plant with the neck of the bulb just above the soil and space 10cm apart in clumps. If they are planted too deeply they may not flower.
- Soil
- Any well drained soil will do, drainage is the key.
- Aspect
- Nerines are from South Africa, Lycoris are from Asia and while they have similar flowers, their growing conditions are quite different. Nerines: Full sun – they like to be baked. ‘Aurea’: Part shade to filtered light - needs protection from the hot afternoon sun.
- Climate
- Cool to Subtropical
- Frost
- Hardy
- Water
- Water to establish then only if rainfall is low in active growth. Keep relatively dry during dormancy.
- Fertiliser
- They are not heavy feeders, so fertilising is not normally necessary, but occasional liquid fertiliser may be beneficial when foliage emerges, especially whilst bulbs are settling in.
- Flowering Time
- March to April. ‘Fothergilli Major’: February.
- After Flower Care
- Cut off any spent flowers and foliage after they have yellowed to tidy and focus the plant on bulb growth. In cool climates, in their first season it is a good idea to add some mulch over winter.
- Notes
- Nerines/Lycoris can take a season to establish, so your floral show will improve with age - many don’t flower in the first season so don’t be discouraged, they just need a little time to settle in. The bulbs like to be crowded, so only lift and divide the clumps when serious overcrowding diminishes the number of flowers appearing. Nerines/Lycoris can be transplanted at any time of the year, unless they are in flower, it is best to replant soon after you have dug them. They are suitable for pots, but you will need to pay more attention to watering during their growth cycle as pots dry out quickly.
