Crinum

Temperature:
55-65 F

Crinums incline to rather large growth, so one or two will be sufficient for a small greenhouse. Six to twelve fragrant lily-like blossoms appear atop a thick stalk of this plant that grows from a tender bulb. Flowers are excitingly colorful, ranging from pure white to pink through purple, and red in hybrids. Water about the first of the year to induce growth; blooms start in spring and continue through summer.

A soil mix of garden loam and well-rotted manure with some sand added for good drainage suits crinums very well; they like to be kept moist and must have good drainage. Provide summer shade. Feed with liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks during growth. Plants may be dried off and rested dry under benches after flowering, or continued in growth for their attractive foliage.

Recommended:

C. americanum (swamp-lily), white flowers; C. longifolium, white or pink flowers; C. Moorei, rose-red flowers.