Nerine undulata Herb.

Horticultural & Botanical History

First botanically described as Amaryllis undulata by Linnaeus in 1767 [Syst. Nat. ed.12, vol.2, p.237/1767] and placed in Nerine by Herbert in 1820 [BM t.2124/1820], referring to the plant described in The Botanical Magazine at t.369 in 1797 as Amaryllis undulata. ‘In the flowers of this species of Amaryllis, a native of the Cape, and introduced about 1767, by John Blackburne, Esq. there is a considerable degree of beauty, and still more of singularity; and the plant is rendered more desirable, from its producing those flowers towards the close of autumn, so late as October and November, and that too both readily and abundantly.’  [BM t.369/1797]. 

‘This pretty autumnal plant has been long in cultivation; it is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and bears its lively flowers plentifully every year, in October. It needs the shelter of the greenhouse, and increases itself sufficiently by offsets, which should be potted in light sandy loam, and need no particular care. It has long been known as Amaryllis, but from the discovery of so many new forms of that voluminous tribe, the division has become in a great measure indispensable.’  [LBC no.1669/1832].

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [B.357/1857].  Well established in the gardens.  These bulbs were probably removed from the abandoned Lower Garden in the early 1980s.

Notes