Nerine bowdenii Amandi

The Nerine bowdenii 'Amandi' is a cultivar of Guernsey Lily or Jersey Lily, a bulbous plant native to South Africa, just like agapanthus. This one enchants with its 8 to 12 flowers gathered in umbels on a floral stem, with delicate soft pink petals that are fine and undulate, blooming while the foliage is still absent. Its late flowering period, in September-October, is remarkable for its beauty and light fragrance. After flowering, the ribbon-like foliage reappears in small evergreen tufts in winter. Suited for mild climates, this species is ideal for potted cultivation in cooler regions, where it should be sheltered during winter, but thrives in a Mediterranean climate.

The Nerine bowdenii 'Amandi', named "Cape Flower" due to its origins, is said, according to legend, to have been brought to the Channel Islands during a maritime transport and stranded there after a Dutch ship carrying its bulbs sank. This herbaceous plant has a large bulb (3 to 5 cm in diameter), protected by a tunic and extended by a long stem with some fleshy roots. It reproduces vegetatively by producing bulblets on the periphery of the mother bulb. In late summer, for 2 to 3 weeks, the plant produces flower stems about 50 cm tall, bearing 7 to 15 lily flowers that are 8 cm wide, with narrow petals, undulating at the edges, in a pastel pink colour, marked with a deeper pink midline. The flower's centre is adorned with long stamens in a soft pink shade. After flowering, ribbon-like leaves appear, about 20 cm long and 1 cm wide, arranged in two opposite rows. The leaves die at the end of spring, and the bulb then goes dormant until late summer. During this summer dormancy period, the bulb must be protected from excessive moisture. Nerine bulbs do not bloom every year, so it is advisable to plant them in groups to ensure flowers every year.

Please note: Nerines are sensitive to polluted urban atmospheres.