Hardy nerine

Nerine bowdenii

South African bulb with strap-like leaves and umbels of bright pink trumpet flowers with rolled-back petals on bare stems in autumn. The hardiest of the cultivated nerines.

Hardiness ratings

Hardy nerine hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 7–10 −17.8 °C to 4.4 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H4 −10 °C to −5 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 7–9 −12 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–6 −10 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Flowers September–October — a sharp autumn equinox marker in temperate gardens
  • Plant with the necks of the bulbs at or just above soil level — deep planting suppresses flowering
  • Needs hot dry summer dormancy followed by autumn moisture — south-facing wall bases are ideal
  • Hardiest of the cultivated Nerines — succeeds outdoors well into cool temperate zones

Pet caution: Hardy nerine is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Hardy nerine against your zones

Reference

Hardy nerine on Wikipedia