Crinum Lilies Are Long-Lasting Show-Stoppers

These jewels of the South will be a centerpiece in your garden from spring to summer

If you ’re a plant buff who endure in the Southeast , hazard are you ’ve heard of crinum lily and may even have admired them blossom in sometime cemeteries or desolate lots . The same probability predict , however , that you ’re not growing them . Such is the paradox , even mystery , of these sheer , boastfully - flowered , once - you - have - them - they’re - yours - forever bulbs of southern lore . How can such a standout plant have religious cult status among quality nurseryman but be missing from so many gardens ? I ’ve decide it ’s time to break the piece and grow more crinums .

Which Crinum Lilies Should You Plant?

I went directly to my champion Frankie Fanelli , southern bulb aficionado , for her top three good word for Zone 7 and higher . For a first specimen , she recommend ‘ Cecil Houdyshel ’ crinum ( Crinum‘Cecil Houdyshel ’ , Zones 7–11 ) for its lightly fragrant , shell - pinkish horn flower that shorten an graceful , slightly curving visibility . Bloom spikes can reach 5 feet once establish , and they continue in chronological succession from June to October if kept well watered .

‘ Album ’ swamp lily ( Crinum ×powellii‘Album ’ , Zones 7–10 ) bears pristine white , lily - condition trump bloom on 3 - animal foot scape with a light , sweet fragrance from June to August . One of the parent to both of these crinums is the cape lily ( Crinum bulbispermum , Zones 7–10 ) , which pop to bloom in recent April in Zone 7b . This beauty bear spicy - scented , bloodless to pink ( calculate on pick ) open - trumpet flowers on 3 - foot scapes over blue - green foliage .

Crinums are consult to as lilies , but they are actually in the Amaryllis family and are cousins to daffodils ( Narcissusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) , amaryllis ( Hippeastrumspp . and cvs . , Zones 8–10 ) , and Christ’s Resurrection lilies ( Lycoris squamigera , Zones 5–9 ) . Out of the nigh 180 coinage worldwide , a smattering of these and many hybrids thrive in southern garden . Like all amaryllids , they contain poisons that keep herbivores forth , no doubt part of the secret to their longevity . Texas horticulturist William Welch infamously summed up their staying power in his bookHeirloom Gardening in the Southwith the asseveration that “ no crinum has ever died . ” Selections variegate in cold hardihood and size , but all have long , compact , strappy leave and tend to form great clumps that resent disturbance . They bloom on tall scape in bodacious clusters of trumpet - physique or spidery flowers that range from white through all shades of pink . Most are sweetly fragrant , and all are spectacular as cut flowers .

Tips for Planting Crinum Lilies

meridian planting season is give , but they can even be plant in summertime , as they maintain active source year around . Because of this want of unfeigned dormancy , they are betray pot or through the mail service wrapped in bog moss . For maximal flowering , crinum lily need good sun ( afternoon shade is fine ) and even moisture with enough drainage . Yet they are quite drought kind , delaying flowering until rainwater devolve . Smaller option can be grow in containers if place in your garden is at a premium .

Feeling the call of crinum lilies?

As pass - along plants , the time - honored method acting of acquiring them is to be gifted a few bulb . These be given to make out nameless , ferry in a chicken feed bag , and with the instruction to “ establish them where you ’re sure you require them , and give them space . ” Luckily , there are crinum - adoring gardener who have carefully examine and selected the best of the best and offer in good order discover bulbs and keen advice . Pay attention to hardiness ratings when choosing , but know that extra mulch in winter paired with good drain may extend root hardiness by at least a half - geographical zone . You ’ll find a gracious plenty at southernbulbs.com , jenksfarmer.com , plantdelights.com , nurcar.com , and brentandbeckysbulbs.com . And for those of you who are already mature crinums , thanks for sharing your medulla oblongata !

Paula Gross is the former Assistant Director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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