Greetings, dedicated plant parents. We are two beautiful bulbs, often confused for one another in your garden centers. While we both produce stunning, lily-like flowers, our needs are quite distinct. To help us thrive under your care, we ask that you listen to our individual stories.
My name is Nerine. I hail from the rocky, well-drained slopes of South Africa. My life cycle is tied to a dry summer dormancy. I flower in the brilliant light of your autumn, after which my foliage appears and persists through your winter and spring, gathering energy before I rest again. My cousin, Amaryllis (Hippeastrum), originates from the tropical and subtropical regions of South America. Her cycle is the opposite. She prefers to be potted and watered to produce a magnificent spring bloom, followed by a period of vigorous leaf growth throughout your summer to recharge her bulb. She then requires a dry, cool rest period in late autumn to initiate another flower spike.
This is the most crucial difference in our care. For me, Nerine, summer is my time to sleep. I demand a warm, completely dry rest. You must withhold all water from me once my foliage yellows and dies back. Watering me during my dormancy will cause my bulb to rot. For Amaryllis, her rest comes in late autumn and early winter. After her summer growth, you should stop watering and allow her foliage to die back, storing her bulb in a cool, dark place for 8-10 weeks. This period of drought is the signal she needs to initiate her spectacular floral display.
I, Nerine, am a sun-worshipper. Plant me where I will receive full, blazing sun. My roots demand the sharpest drainage possible; a gritty, sandy mix is perfect for me. I am not a heavy feeder and prefer to be left largely undisturbed for many years. Amaryllis is more flexible. During her growth period, she enjoys bright, indirect light. Too much harsh sun can scorch her leaves. She thrives in a rich, well-draining potting mix and appreciates regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer after she blooms to help rebuild her bulb for the next season.
My South African heritage makes me tender. I can tolerate brief, light frosts, but a hard freeze will be my end. In USDA zones 8 and below, I am much happier living in a container that can be brought into a sheltered spot for the winter. Amaryllis is even more sensitive to the cold. She is strictly a houseplant in most of the US, except for the warmest, frost-free areas (zones 9-11). She must be protected from any temperatures near or below freezing.
