Nerine: The Naked Lady Lily
Hello Weekly Whorlers! This week we get to meet the beautiful and shimmery nymph of the sea, Nerine! Although not really a nymph and not really from the sea, she does shimmer in the Fall and she does have ties to a shipwreck. So hold on and let's get down to The Naked Truth About Nerine.
How We Got Here: The History Of Nerine
Nerine has long been associated with lore and myth, getting its name from Nereids, the fifty beautiful sea nymphs and daughters of the sea-god Nereus of Greek mythology. This name was given by an English botanist in 1820 as the flower always seems to shimmer and look dusted with glitter.
These beauties hale from Southern Africa and have their own legend giving rise to one of the most popular species, The Guernsey Lily. The legend beholds that the bulbs were washed ashore on the island of Guernsey of the Channel Islands. It was said that they were being transported by a Dutch East India Company vessel that succumbed to the sea and became shipwrecked. The bulbs flourished on the island due its rocky soil, similar to that of their native land.
They were first described as being in Europe in 1635, and named by Linnaeus in 1753, however he placed the flower in the Amaryllis family which was rejected in 1755 and not well defined.
It wasn't until 1894 that the hardy species Nerine bowdenii was found and introduced to the masses and become a staple in many gardens.
Interesting Uses And Meanings
Most Nerines are highly valued by florists and uses popularly as cut flowers or in gardens. Their long, straight, slender stems and brilliant blooms have a vase life of almost two weeks!
They are great in rock gardens and need little water which makes them great in xeriscaping gardens as well. They flourish best with their bulb "necks" slightly above the soil, when planted.
Some species were used in traditional South African medicine, with modern research showing that the alkaloids found in the plant have shown to exhibit antiviral and antitumor properties.
The Nerine flower has powerful associations with good fortune and surprise due to its unexpected late-season blooms.
They symbolize resilience and beauty in adversity, as they thrive in challenging conditions and blooming when other flowers are done.
Nerine also showcases femininity, elegance and renewal as their delicate, ruffled shimmery petals highlight grace and beauty.
Did You Know?
The Nerine is known as the Naked Lady, because the bloom usually emerges after the foliage and leaves are gone for the season.
They bloom best when bored and crowded, so try not to disturb them!
They like to "bake" by having part of their bulb getting hit by the heat of the summer sun.
They are closely related to Amaryllis, and a hybrid called Amarine has been successfully created by crossing the two.
They are sometimes also referred to as Spider Lilies due to the curved, wavy petals.
We hope you enjoyed the legend of the Nerine! These shimmering beauties will catch your eye no matter where in the world you find them, so keep those eyes open, and see if you can sneak a peak.