Reader's question: MR Thompson has noticed that some beautiful pink flowers coming into bloom in his neighbour’s garden. His neighbour has told him that they are Nerines, but that they are difficult to grow. Mr Thompson wants to know a bit more about the plant.

NERINES are members of the Amaryllidaceae family, which includes about 1,200 species including Agapanthus (lily-ofthe- Nile), Clivia (kaffir lily), Hippeastrum (amaryllis) and Narcissus (daffodil).

Most members of the Amaryllidaceae family are true bulbs. The Nerine is usually a small to medium-sized bulbous plant that is native to South Africa.

The Reverend William Herbert, an Amaryllid expert, established the Nerine genus in 1820. It is said he named it after Nerine, the Greek mythological sea nymph. The common names for nerines are Jersey Lily, Guernsey Lily and Spider Lily. The best known variety is Nerine bowdenii, pictured above, sometimes called the Jersey lily after actress Lily Langtry. But despite the common names, Nerines are not true lilies.

The Nerine has an elegant and dainty flower with long stems showing off the slender petals. Flower colour varies from almost white to deep pink with distinctive, wavy margins to the petals with stamens and styles curving to the one side like gift ribbons. The best known are bubblegum pink and bright tea rose tones, but they are also available in pure white and cherry red.

They prefer cool temperatures, but not cold and are usually grown as half hardy bulbs in the garden, reaching heights of 30 to 60cm. Bulbs can take up to two years to develop before they are strong enough to produce a blossom. Bigger bulbs can produce two stems or more. They do not have very pretty foliage so are best grown in the middle of borders. The bulbs should be planted about 10cm deep and about 15 cm apart at the start of autumn. Guernsey lilies can grow in sunny or lightly shaded areas that have good drainage, though the soil should be kept moist.

Not the easiest plants to look after, Guernsey lily and other Nerine members require watering regularly until they start to bloom. Stop watering them while they are blooming, but resume once flowering has finished.

Watering should continue even after the leaves have died back. For best results grow the plants close together.

Propagate by dividing the bulbs in late autumn.

Jobs this week

■ STOCK up on winter pansies to fill in the gaps in the borders created by fading perennials.

■ BUY in winter bulbs. Daffodils can be planted from any time now, but hold on to tulips until a bit later in the year as they tend to suffer in damp conditions.

■ BRING in any tender indoor plants. The nights are starting to cool down and will soon start to damage non hardy leaves.

Brigid presents the Green Gardening and great Outdoors show every Sunday from 11am to 2pm on BBC Tees, 95FM.

Questions can be phoned in on 01642- 225511, or texted on 07786-200995. Emails can be sent to brigid.press@bbc.co.uk.