Dear Jim S. and all, > > I tried C. "Sunbonnet" and C. "Super Ellen" out in the open garden a couple > years ago. The 'Sunbonnet" never came up. The 'Super Ellen" came up and > bloomed the following year, but is not there this year. C. 'Ellen > Bosanquet" did not survive outdoors, no even right up against the south > wall of my greenhouse. I have 2 'Sunbonnet'. One is a wimp and may not make it through the season, the other more vigorous, but neither bloomed. 'Super Ellen' Is fabulous and highly regarded here. 'Ellen Bousanquet' very disappointing, but survives and barely blooms. Neither Sunbonnet or Ellen B are recommended. > > I agree that C. x-powellii are barely worth growing. The white powellii > are marginally better than the pink ones. I think x powellii alba is quite nice and many times better than most typical pink x powellii. There are some named siblings that are a shade better, but forget powellii if you can choose better. > The best for hardy outdoors crinums in my > climate are the hybrid, Crinum [variabile x bulbispermum]. When will these hit the garden centers? ... commerce? Thanks Jim W.