Swamp Lily Crinum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Swamp Lily:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KRY-num
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Crinums are great summer-flowering bulbs that have graced Southern landscapes for years. They lend a bit of nostalgia and add a delightful tropical touch to gardens. Their foliage is lustrous and statuesque, providing a pleasing contrast to finer-textured ornamentals.
This member of the amaryllis family is one of the more cold-hardy bulbs (injured below 25 degrees F / 2 degrees C), and it can be safely planted in the eastern regions of our mountains. Those living in the far western regions of North Carolina can grow crinums in containers that can be brought inside for the winter. Plant crinums in April and continuing through late October. They thrive in sunny locations, provided the soil is moist, or in filtered shade. Protect from strong wind. When looking for plants that grow well in woodland shade gardens, consider C. moorei.
Newly planted crinums need to settle in for a season or two before they begin blooming freely. They do not like to be disturbed. After the first flowering season, apply a high-phosphorus fertilizer in mid-May each year. Provide plenty of water during the bloom period if there is a drought. After 4 to 5 years, remove the offsets and replant to enlarge your collection or to share with a gardening friend.
Sometimes called a Cemetery plant, it was often used in cemeteries in past centuries.
Division is an excellent form of propagation. Divided plants will flower more quickly than when planting from offshoot bulbs. Division should be accomplished in the winter months when the plant is not actively growing.
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Crinums can be affected by red blotch fungus or crinum mosaic potyvirus. Red blotch fungus will cause red spots on the leaves, while mosaic potyvirus will cause yellow streaks. Spider mites are an occasional issue as well as the Eastern lubber grasshopper
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Border Garden- Pathway
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Album'
White flowers - 'Bradley'
Dark Pink flowers - 'Cintho Alfa'
Pink-white striped flowers - 'Creole' - Crinum scabrum
Dark pink flowers - 'Elizabeth Traub'
Dark rose-pink flowers with white throat - 'Ellen Bosanquet'
Deep pink flowers - 'Milk and Wine'
Pink striped flowers - 'Rubra'
Wine-red flowers - 'Stars and Stripes'
Pink-white striped flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Album', 'Bradley', 'Cintho Alfa', 'Creole' - Crinum scabrum, 'Elizabeth Traub', 'Ellen Bosanquet', 'Milk and Wine', 'Rubra', 'Stars and Stripes'
- Tags:









- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Album'
White flowers - 'Bradley'
Dark Pink flowers - 'Cintho Alfa'
Pink-white striped flowers - 'Creole' - Crinum scabrum
Dark pink flowers - 'Elizabeth Traub'
Dark rose-pink flowers with white throat - 'Ellen Bosanquet'
Deep pink flowers - 'Milk and Wine'
Pink striped flowers - 'Rubra'
Wine-red flowers - 'Stars and Stripes'
Pink-white striped flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Album', 'Bradley', 'Cintho Alfa', 'Creole' - Crinum scabrum, 'Elizabeth Traub', 'Ellen Bosanquet', 'Milk and Wine', 'Rubra', 'Stars and Stripes'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crinum
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropics & Subtropics of Asia, Australia, Africa and the Americas
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is moderately salt tolerant, and is seldom damaged by deer.
- Bulb Storage:
- Store bulbs in slightly moist sand at 35-45 degrees F (2-7 degrees C); if grown indoors in a container, place in a bright, cool [55 degrees F, 13 degrees C) night temperature room
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Lily-like flowers (to 4” wide and long), ranging in shape from bell-shaped to spider-like, bloom in clusters in summer atop leafless stalks.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The coarse, sword-like green basal leaves form in a spiral fashion.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The leafless stems are called scapes. They are sturdy and rigid.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans