Crinum lily has been a Southern favorite for yearsadd them to your garden lineup.
Crinum lilies have graced Southern gardens for many years.
In cold climates, crinum lilies shine in pots on a patio during summer but must be overwintered inside.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
Flower stalks emerge above 2- to 5-foot-tall arching straplike green leaves.
Sometimes plants grow a second flower stalk in late summer.
All parts of crinum lily are toxic to humans.Plant them away from areas where children play.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
Potted plants need a large container filled withgood-quality potting soil.
Avoid fall and winter to prevent cold damage.
Choose asunny or part sun locationin well-draining soil and some shelter from the wind.
Credit: Bill Stites
Dig a hole for each bulb that is about 10 inches deep.
The neck should be positioned at soil level and the stem or growing point just above the soil surface.
In areas where crinum lilies aren’t hardy,plant them in containersthat can bebrought inside for the winter.
Choose a heavy ceramic or terra-cotta container with drainage holes and fill it with good-quality potting soil.
Light
Although they tolerate most light conditions, crinum lilies grow best in partial shade.
When grown in full sun, they appreciate shade in the afternoon.
Soil and Water
During the warm growing season, keep thewell-draining soilmoist.
During the rest of the year, it can be drier.
For crinums in containers, an utility of half-strength liquid fertilizer monthly during the blooming season works well.
In either case, follow the directions on the product label.
Pruning
Pinch off the flowerswhen they fade.
Trimming any dead or damaged leaves is about all the pruning the crinum lily needs.
After the blooming season is over, snip off the stem at its base.
Fill it with good-quality potting soil and bury the bulb up to the stem or growing point.
Keep the soil moist, not wet, during the time it grows outdoors.
In winter, move the container inside to a sheltered area.
However, their leaves tend to attract grasshoppers.
Pick them off and drop them in a container of soapy water.
Also,be on the lookout for mealybugs.
However, crinum lily doesn’t like to have its roots disturbed, so only divide them when necessary.
Gently lift the entire plant from the ground.
Do not let them dry out.
Return the parent plant to the ground.
Zones 8-11
Southern Swamp Lily
Crinum americanumoffers white spider-like petals that droop from a central stem.
This Southeastern native does best in moist soil and blooms in late summer.
The plant grows 2 feet tall.
They don’t usually bloom the first summer after they are planted.
Crinum lilies are evergreen in their hardiness zones; they retain their foliage year-round.
Those grown in pots may go dormant during winter, in which case the foliage turns yellow and dies.
Keep the soil barely moist, and new growth will appear in spring.
