Though not kinsfolk of the lily, nerine flowers could fool one into thinking they were, with their long and narrow spidery petals, which spread from a small cup centre and curve back at the tips. A deep musky scent is released as clusters of up to 10 individual flowers radiate on short stems in a ball-like umbel. Nerine's long lasting flowers make it ideal as a cut flower, but mostly autumn-flowering, nerines will also make a cheerful, brightly-coloured statement in your garden as other bulbs fade in the face of the approaching winter. Nerine bulbs like to clump and will multiply over the years in a sunny areas where there is good drainage, but are not fond of wet and cold winters.