Swamp Lily Crinum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KRY-num
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
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. 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.
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Border Garden- Pathway
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Album'
white flowers - 'Bradley'
- 'Creole'
- 'Elizabeth Traub'
- 'Ellen Bosanquet'
- 'Rubra'
wine-red flowers
- 'Album'
- 'Album', 'Bradley', 'Creole', 'Elizabeth Traub', 'Ellen Bosanquet', 'Rubra'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Album'
white flowers - 'Bradley'
- 'Creole'
- 'Elizabeth Traub'
- 'Ellen Bosanquet'
- 'Rubra'
wine-red flowers
- 'Album'
- 'Album', 'Bradley', 'Creole', 'Elizabeth Traub', 'Ellen Bosanquet', 'Rubra'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crinum
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropics & Subtropics
- 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
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- 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)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- 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:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leathery
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Coarse, sword-like green leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Houseplants
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
