To truly thrive with us, you must first understand our unique rhythm. We are not like common lilies that grow in spring and summer. We are geophytes, meaning we grow from bulbs, and our lifecycle is adapted to a Mediterranean climate. We flower in the magnificent, crisp light of autumn, sending up our bold, spider-like blooms on tall, naked stalks. After flowering, we produce our strappy, green leaves which persist through the winter and spring, gathering energy from the sun. As summer heat arrives, we enter our crucial dormancy period. Our foliage will yellow and die back, and we require a warm, dry rest to set buds for the next autumn's show. Disturbing us with summer water or fertilizer will likely lead to rot and a lack of flowers.
Our most critical demand is sunlight and well-drained soil. Plant our bulbs in a location that receives full sun for at least six hours a day; this ensures strong stems and prolific blooming. The single greatest threat to our existence is soggy soil, especially during our summer dormancy. Therefore, excellent drainage is non-negotiable. Ideal spots include south-facing slopes, raised beds, rock gardens, or the base of a warm, sunny wall. If you have heavy clay soil, you must amend it generously with grit, sharp sand, or gravel and plant us on a mound to encourage water to run away from our bulbs.
The timing and depth of planting are vital for our success. In the United States, the best time to plant us is in late summer or early autumn, as we are ending our dormancy. Do not bury us deeply! We prefer to be planted with the very top of our bulb's neck just barely exposed at the soil surface, or with only a very thin layer of soil covering us. A good rule is to plant us so that the nose of the bulb is peeking out. Crowding helps us thrive, so place our bulbs about 4-6 inches apart. This communal living supports our flowering stalks and creates a more dramatic display.
Once established, we are remarkably low-maintenance. Water us moderately when we are in active growth (from flowering in autumn through the spring). As our leaves begin to yellow in late spring, gradually reduce watering. During our summer dormancy, we prefer to be almost completely dry. A light application of a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost in early autumn, as the flower buds emerge, can be beneficial, but it is not strictly necessary if the soil is reasonably fertile. We are largely pest and disease-free, with bulb rot being our only significant issue, which is avoided by perfect drainage and a dry summer rest.
Our hardiness varies by species. Many of us, like the popular Nerine bowdenii, are reliably winter hardy in USDA zones 7-10. In these zones, we can remain in the ground year-round with a good mulch applied after the ground cools in late autumn to protect us from severe temperature fluctuations. In colder regions (zones 5-6), a thick winter mulch of straw or leaves is essential for survival. For gardeners in zone 4 and below, it is safest to grow us in containers that can be moved to a cool, dry, and frost-free location like a garage or basement for our summer dormancy and throughout the freezing winter.
