Crinum breeding: which features ?
Jim Lykos (Wed, 25 Aug 2004 17:49:11 PDT)

Hi Angelo,

I think your arguments about the breeding features of Crinums are
fairly sound and probably shared by many bulb growers and the gardening
public.
However, I think once the number of the species in your collection have
grown on to flowering size you will change your mind particularly about
the foliage beauty of some species.
Some Crinums only come into their foliage glory when they are mature
plants including C. asiaticum you mentioned.

Even within each Crinum species there is considerable variation in the
numbers of flowers that will open at the same time and the length of
time the flowers remain in fresh condition, while the day long summer
temperatures also influence this. I have a couple of variants of C.
flaccidum that are slightly later flowering (early autumn) and they
remain in full flower (no wilting of flowers ) for over three weeks,
whereas the typical flaccidum is a two to three day wonder. There are
other species and hybrids that are infertile (many triploids) or lack
pollinators when grown out of their normal environmental range and
because they are not pollinated they also show considerable longevity.
I think that plant selection and wise species line as well as hybrid
breeding can in time result in longer flowered Crinums, and that a
primary goal of breeders should include breeding well shaped free
flowering, long lasting and floriferuous hybrids of various colours.
Having said that, I believe aesthetically that there are some
epthermal flowering species of crinums that are heavenly in shape,
colour. foliage and scent and cannot be surpassed despite or because
of their epthermal quality.
Cheers

Jim Lykos
Blue Mountains
Australia