Crinum breeding: which features ?
James Waddick (Thu, 26 Aug 2004 12:09:13 PDT)

Dear All;
I have read the reports with interest, but have a slightly
different view from a northern grower who does not hybridize. My
thoughts relate to hardy Crinum only.

An established plant will consist of numerous bulbs - 12 to
20. Each mature bulb can put up to 4 stalks giving an old clump
upwards of 30 to 50 or more stalks over weeks of bloom. Each stalk
has up to 7 flowers that open over a week or more.
With even a handful of hardy varieties, bloom has lasted (and
continues, even now with 'Cecil Houdyshel' and 'Ellen Bousanquet')
over much more than a month.

What I see as a problem are flowers that do not open widely
and face outwardly instead of half open and drooping. I like flowers
with full wide petals or overlapping petals, not with narrow petals
and wide spaces between.

Colors could be brighter and deeper over a wider range of
shades. I have a single C. scabrum hybrid that is hardy here, but it
is slightly marginal without enough bloom for its size. The flowers
are great with deep pink mid-lines on white petals like the true
southern milk and wine lilies. Just not hardy or vigorous enough.
How about true red, orange, peach, coral, salmon and picotees?

And better fragrance is always a plus.

Hardiness is an absolute requirement.

I may be dreaming to get more of these qualities in any one
plant, but I can dream, too.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
E-fax 419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +