Nerine Bowdenii Pearls of Cherry

Nerine ‘Pearls of Cherry’ is a brilliant way to bring glamour and colour to the late-season garden, just when many borders are starting to wind down. It produces clusters of cherry to fuchsia-pink, sparkling, wavy-petalled flowers on upright stems, making it a real autumn highlight in borders and pots. It’s also widely grown as a cut flower, so you can enjoy a few stems indoors too.

This variety typically reaches around 45–70cm tall once established, and it’s happiest in a sunny, sheltered spot with very free-draining soil—think the base of a warm wall, gravel garden, or a container you can move to a protected place in winter. 

Planting Instructions

When to Plant:

Plant Nerine bulbs in spring to early summer (commonly April–June) when the soil is warming up. Avoid planting when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Where to Plant:
Choose a sunny, sheltered position with very well-drained soil. Nerines thrive with warmth and dislike sitting in winter wet. They are ideal for gravel gardens, sunny borders, the base of a south-facing wall, or pots and containers.

How to Plant:

• Depth: Plant so the bulb sits shallowly with the neck showing above the soil surface.
• Spacing: Space bulbs about 10–15 cm apart.
• Soil Prep: If your soil is heavy, add horticultural grit. Nerines prefer leaner soil — too much enrichment can encourage leaves over flowers.

Watering:
Water in after planting. Keep watering light until growth starts, then water during dry spells. In summer, Nerines enjoy warmth and do not like being overwatered — good drainage is essential.

Aftercare Tips:

• Leave flower stems and foliage to die back naturally — this feeds the bulb for next year.
• In colder areas, add winter protection or grow in a pot so it can be moved to a more sheltered spot.
• Nerines prefer to be left undisturbed once settled, and will often improve year on year.

Top Tip:
A warm, sunny position that gets a good summer bake helps encourage the best autumn flowering. Plant near a wall or in a pot for extra warmth and control over winter wet.

Plant Details

Flowering Period: 

September – November

Height: 

45–60cm

Position: 

Full sun, sheltered

Type: 

Summer-dormant perennial bulb