Nerine bowdenii Ostara K

The Nerine bowdenii 'Ostara K' is a cultivar of Guernsey Lily or Jersey Lily, a bulbous plant originating from South Africa, just like agapanthus. This one enchants with its delicate colouring, pinkish-white, starting from pink buds, with long light pink stamens. It produces 8 to 12 flowers grouped in umbels on a flower stalk, with thin and undulating petals, which bloom while the foliage is still absent. Its late flowering, 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 to mild climates, this species is ideal for potted culture in regions in cooler climates where it must be sheltered during winter, but thrives in warmer more Mediterranean climates.

Bowden's Nerine, named "Cape Flower" due to its origins, reportedly arrived on the Channel Islands during a maritime transport and ended up there after a Dutch ship carrying its bulbs shipwrecked. This herbaceous plant has a large bulb (3 to 5 cm in diameter), protected by a tunic and extended by a stem with a few fleshy roots. It propagates vegetatively by producing bulblets on the periphery of the mother bulb. In late summer, for 2 to 3 weeks, the Ostara K variety produces flower stalks about 50 cm tall; bearing 7 to 15 wide lily flowers of 8 cm, with narrow, undulating pinkish-white petals. The flower's centre features long light pink stamens. Following 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 enters dormancy until late summer. During this summer dormancy period, the bulb must be protected from excessive moisture. Nerine bulbs do not flower every year. It is advisable to plant them in groups of 12 to ensure annual flowering.

Tip: Nerines are sensitive to polluted urban atmospheres.

Bulb size 12 +