Dear All, David and Jim S make two good points. Planting depth - My comments about hardy Crinum refer JUST to these two major types - x powellii and bulbispermum. The genus is large and has an array of cultivation needs. I have seen plenty of tropical Crinums grow with their bulbs fully exposed on the ground, but these do not grow in MO or other cold climates. Jim S. emphasized my point that young (small) bulbispermum seedlings do not do survive winter without protection. Give them two winters care and then plant out. I start mine in 4-6 inch community pots and gradually advance to single plants in deep pots about 5 in across and up to one foot deep. These are wintered in a frost free greenhouse. In the garden C. bulbispermum produces copious seed, but I cannot recall ever seeing a self sown seedling. The winter simply kills them off. Now a Q for Jim S. Since I've never tried any of these bulbispermum x varaible or straight variable, can you name a few you like best? I could be tempted ( pictures?) and there's always more room to squeeze in a 6 foot plant !! Yikes, what am I thinking? But to emphasize - plant deep, give them summer heat and sun, protect young plants. Enjoy Jim W. ps I just look at the PBS wiki and there's no picture of C. variable in flower and no note about hardiness. http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… We need to add some tempting pix!! and the Crinum hybrid page has no mention of variable hybrids to tempt either. http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… I urge readers to check them all out. There's nice pix of xpowellii alba http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… and typical x powellii http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… and many bulbispermum http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +