Plants: Crinum amoenum - Crinum Lily

This crinum lily makes an imposing presence in the garden. Dark green strap-like leaves may be more than 3 feet long by 4 inches wide. These are held erect and arranged in a spiral rosette to form impressive clumps up to 5 feet in height by 7 feet in width. The leaves emerge from huge bulbs that may weigh ten to twenty pounds! Flowers are shaped like tubes that flair open into a crown of narrow petals. The flowers are white and are arranged in clusters atop thick, succulent stems.

Location

This crinum is native to tropical areas of Asia. It is now a favorite landscape plant in Florida, the gulf coast, California and other warm climate areas.

Culture

This lily is happy in just about any type of well drained soil.
Light: Prefers bright sunny situations but will grow in part shade.
Moisture: Provide average water. Does well in dry soils and is drought tolerant.
Hardiness:USDA Zone 9 - 11. You can grow this crinum in Zone 8, but foliage is killed by freezing winter temperatures. I have several of these growing in Tallahassee, they suffer some degree of cold damage every year but quickly recover their attractiveness in the spring.
Propagation: To propagate crinums, dig up a clump and separate the small offset bulbs from the parent bulb. Plant these in pots or directly in the garden where they will quickly root to form new plants.

Publisher: Hirts Gardens