Hardy Crinums
J.E. Shields (Mon, 12 Jul 2004 05:36:32 PDT)

Hi all,

Yersterday we dug the row of Crinum [bulbispermum "Roseum" X lugardiae]
bulbs that have grown outdoors in the field for three years. They had to
be moved to make way for a new greenhouse in that area. We will be holding
them in individual 5-gallon containers until we get through the
construction phase.

The bulbs were 3.5 inches in diameter, and their bases were about 8 inches
below the soil line. They bloomed this year, most of the bulbs having
three scapes in succession. No trace of seeds in any of the spent umbels,
unfortunately. The flowers are intermediate between lugardiae and
bulbispermum, but show little trace of the pink in bulbispermum "Roseum".

One of the field-grown Crinum variabile has started blooming. We will have
to move those plants, too. They have been out in the field even longer
than the [bulbispermum "Roseum" X lugardiae] plant have been there. I have
had three of these C. variabile bulbs in 5-gal. containers for the same
length of time there have been grown outdoors. The potted plants, which
have been stored bone dry and above freezing in the winters, just don't
look as big and vigorous as those in the ground.

We have always put a few inches of mulch over the field plants in late
autumn each year.

Regards,
Jim Shields
in central Indiana

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Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA