Hi Laura, I hate to reply on the PBS list, but since this came about: I tried ‘Persephone’ but it was killed during a cold winter. I think ‘Lolita’ is less hardy. I think most of the Crinums on the Jenks list indicate hardiness. Hopefully others will suggest a good choice for you, too. Best of luck Jim W. On Jul 12, 2020, at 1:34 PM, Laura Grant via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: Thank you Jim. They sure have some interesting varieties. I must try the C. Persephone. Apparently it is very fragrant. C.Lolita has good color. Have you grown any of those and what do you recommend? Laura Niagara, Ontario PS I tried to send you this message privately, but it was rejected. On Thu, Jul 9, 2020 at 12:43 PM James Waddick via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > Laura, I should have,mentioned that Jenks Farmer is the > best source for Crin um bulbs. Not cheap, but they are large blooming size > ( https://jenksfarmer.com/). He is a grower and hybridizer, too. > Best Jim > > > > On Jul 8, 2020, at 11:39 AM, Laura Grant via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > Hi James, > Thank you for great suggestions on crinums. > I grow C. powellii in the garden and agree with you. It takes a large space > for not so impressive bloom. Furthermore, the roots go down two feet and to > dig it up is a challenge. > Laura > Niagara on the Lake, Ontario > > On Sun, Jul 5, 2020 at 12:12 PM James Waddick via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > >> Dear PBS friends in Cooler zones, >> >> Please be aware that some Crinum do very well in cooler zones and >> are not ALL plants for milder climates. I have been growing a variety of >> Crinum species and hybrids for decades and am shocked when good gardeners >> don’t believe they grow in the ground and are not dug every winter. I > have >> average winter lows of 0F and lower, summer high above 100 F. All Crinum >> appreciate abundant watering here, but my climate is very dry most > seasons. >> >> One of the easiest and cheapest to try if you doubt my words is C. >> x powellii although I do not recommend it. It is totally hardy, vigorous >> and floriferous, but its flowers are not especially attractive with > narrow >> petals and pale wimpy pink. It is may be too vigorous and spread rapidly. >> Fortunately it does not produce seed, but the clump expands yearly. There >> are so many MUCH better Crinums. >> >> One of the nicest and easiest is C. bulbispermum. It is very easy >> from seed if given a very little care when it is young. In decades of >> growing this here I do not think I have had any self sown seedlings. I >> just sent a pile of seed to the Seed Ex. Seed must be planted immediately >> as they do not keep long and will germinate in or out of the soil. Press >> fresh seed into damp soil or sand only about 1/2 deep as they need light > to >> germinate. A large root will emerge and go into the soil. Soon after a >> single thin leaf will emerge . Wait until the second leaf then cover the >> seed with an inch of soil. If you have one seed per pot keep this > seedling >> frost free over the first winter. If you have a pot of seedlings transfer >> to 1 seed to a pot for winter care. In spring after frost you can either >> move it to a larger pot until fall or plant it right in a sunny spot in >> the garden. Either way it is ready for the garden. It may take a year or > 2 >> or 3 before it blooms, but it will. It is slow to form a clump, but will >> bloom for years. >> >> There are many excellent Crinum for the northern garden, but a few >> comments: >> >> “Super Ellen”. Huge abundant flowers, but gets to 6 ft tall and a >> spread of 8 to 10 ft or more. Not for the small garden.Gorgeous flowers. >> >> ‘Glory’ a smaller plant, but similar to ’Super Ellen’. >> >> C. powellii ‘Alba’ a pure white form of this hybrid, but with >> nicely formed pure white flowers. >> >> ‘Cecil Houdyshel’ a nice pink x powelli type. >> >> Many others. I should mention a couple that have not grown for >> me, but are abundant and popular in the southern : ‘Ellen Bousanquet’ , x >> herbertii , ‘“Milk and Wine” types all proved too tender here. Avoid C >> asiatum and variants. >> >> And finally if this has sparked any interest go to the PBS image >> pages for species and hybrids. Start here: >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… >> >> Do consider finding room for at least one Crinum in Zone 5 and >> certainly in Zone 6 . enjoy Jim >> >> >> >> >> On Jul 5, 2020, at 9:10 AM, Tim Eck via pbs < >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: >> >> Thanks Jim, >> I live in zone 6B, about 60 miles due west of Philadelphia but I > overwinter >> the pots in an unheated greenhouse. I am starting to plant some out in a >> field this year for the first time. My Super Ellen has produced very few >> seed over the years, but this could be one of them. >> Or it could be a migrating tag. I have occasional helpers re-potting and >> they don't always pick up the same tag they lay down - a source of great >> frustration. >> Tim >> >> On Sun, Jul 5, 2020 at 9:36 AM James Waddick via pbs < >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: >> >>> Tim, >>> >>> Not knowing where you live, I can't tell for sure as some of these >>> are not hardy every where. As I understand ’Super Ellen’ is not self >>> fertile and my plant in Kansas City has grown here for over a decade and >>> never produced a seed even with hand pollination attempts. >>> >>> I suspect you live in a mild climate if you grow this in an above >>> ground pot so that’s the end of my guesses. It is however very >> beautiful. >>> Jim >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jul 4, 2020, at 8:33 PM, Tim Eck via pbs < >>> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: >>> >>> Here is an unknown hybrid where the first half of the tag was destroyed >> and >>> the second half said "X Herbertii". >>> I suspect it is SuperEllen x Herbertii or SuperEllen x self. Maybe > Eagle >>> Rock x Herbertii? >>> I would appreciate any opinions.. >>> >>> Dr. James Waddick >>> 8871 NW Brostrom Rd >>> Kansas City, MO 64152-2711 >>> USA >>> Phone 816-746-1949 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> pbs mailing list >>> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net >>> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… >> >> Dr. James Waddick >> 8871 NW Brostrom Rd >> Kansas City, MO 64152-2711 >> USA >> Phone 816-746-1949 >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… >> > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Dr. James Waddick > 8871 NW Brostrom Rd > Kansas City, MO 64152-2711 > USA > Phone 816-746-1949 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Dr. James Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd Kansas City, MO 64152-2711 USA Phone 816-746-1949 _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…