Plant Profile

Botanical Name: Nerine bowdenii

Common Name: Guernsey Lily, Jersey Lily

Species and cultivars of special interest: ‘Pink Triumph’ is a cultivar that has silvery pink flowers occurring on long scapes with up to 10 scarlet blooms.

Origin: South Africa and Europe

Availability: Late Autumn, Winter and Spring

Foliage Characteristics: The Guernsey Lily is a perennial bulb that forms a clump with upright stems. After flowering, green, long and linear strap-shaped leaves appear in Autumn. The foliage is deciduous.

Floral Characteristics: The flower head is made up of 6 to 12 florets that naturally look twisted. The upright stems of the bulb are topped with clusters of frilled funneled-shaped flowers. The petals are ribbed with protruding stamens. The flowers occur in umbles. The colours available range from white, red-orange, pink and crimson. There is no perfume from the flowers.

Special features and characteristics of special interest: Nerines are bright, colourful and economical. They have a long vase life and are a great filler or focal in many arrangements. They perform well in rockeries and cottage gardens, flowering reliably. Nerines are found naturally throughout the woodlands in South Africa.

Maintenance, Cultural requirements and Post Harvest Treatments: Re-cut stems before placing in fresh water. Use floral preservative as this promotes bud opening. Ethylene sensitive so keep away from fruit and car fumes. Keep well hydrated, plenty of water.

Pest and Diseases: Slugs and snails attack new growth. These flowers have no major disease problem.

Use In Floristry: The flowers can be either used as transitional or focal. They may be used in almost every facet of floristry – in hand-tied bunches, bowls, wedding bouquets and accessories. Grouped or single stems can be arranged on their own or mixed with other traditional flowers.

Customer advice: Low temperatures may retard flower development. Keep well hydrated, plenty of water. Add flower preservative to water. Re-cut stems before placing in water. Ethylene sensitive so keep away from fruit and car fumes. Purchase when the oldest flower is partially to fully open as tight buds will not open.