Plants
Crinum Lily
Crinum · Amaryllidaceae
The crinum lily is one of the most imposing bulbs you can grow here: from a bulb the size of a fist to a childs head grow metre-long leaf rosettes and, in high summer, stems up to one and a half metres tall bearing large pink funnel flowers with a pleasant fragrance. Give it a warm spot and it rewards you for decades. We stock Crinum as a container and border plant in sturdy nursery quality.
- Light
- Full sun to sunny, warm and sheltered.
- Watering
- Water generously in summer, keep dry in winter.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Crinum
For Central European gardens Crinum × powellii is the first choice: it is the toughest crinum and, in sheltered spots under a thick mulch layer, survives Rhineland winters in the ground. Alongside the pink standard there is the pure white ‚Album‘. Truly tropical species such as Crinum asiaticum remain container and conservatory plants.
Plant the long-necked bulb so the tip just shows above the soil, in a warm, sunny, ideally slightly sheltered spot — classically in front of a south-facing wall. The soil should be rich and deep, because Crinum roots vigorously and repays good feeding with more flower stems.
Unlike many bulbs, the crinum lily likes it properly moist during the growing season: in its homeland it often grows on riverbanks. So water generously in summer and feed regularly; only in winter must the bulb sit dry, or it will rot.
The most common mistake is impatience. Freshly planted or repotted crinums often need two to three years to establish and flower reliably. After that the rule is: disturb them as little as possible — the clumps get finer every year.
In a container Crinum needs a large, heavy pot and overwinters bright to dark at five to ten degrees, depending on whether the foliage dies back. The long, strap-shaped leaves look good outside the flowering season too, making the plant an architectural specimen on terraces and in large plantings.
Is Crinum Lily toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Toxic
- Cats
- Toxic
- Dogs
- Toxic
Like its relatives amaryllis and daffodil, the crinum lily contains toxic alkaloids (including lycorine), most concentrated in the bulb. Toxic to cats, dogs and children — keep out of reach and wear gloves when dividing.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps; larger amounts can cause tremors and circulatory problems.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered spot, ideally in front of a south-facing wall.
- 02Plant the bulb with the neck just above the soil surface, in deep, rich soil.
- 03Water generously in summer and feed every two weeks — Crinum is thirsty and hungry.
- 04Keep dry in winter; mulch thickly in the border, move containers to a frost-free spot at five to ten degrees.
- 05Allow two to three years of patience after planting — established clumps flower more richly every year.
- 06Wear gloves when handling; the sap can irritate the skin.
Frequently asked
- Is the crinum lily hardy?
- Only the hybrid Crinum × powellii is borderline hardy: in sheltered, rather dry spots with a thick mulch layer it survives frosts down to about minus ten degrees, often without trouble in the mild Rhineland. All tropical species must overwinter frost-free.
- Why does my crinum lily not flower?
- Usually the plant is simply too new in its spot: Crinum needs two to three years after planting to establish. Other reasons are too little sun, a lack of nutrients in summer or recent division. Feed it well and leave it alone — that is the best recipe.
- Is the crinum lily toxic?
- Yes. All parts, especially the bulb, contain lycorine and related alkaloids. The plant is toxic to cats and dogs, and children should not come into contact with bulbs or sap either. Wear gloves when transplanting.
- Is the crinum lily fragrant?
- Yes, the large funnel flowers of Crinum × powellii release a fine, sweet lily fragrance, especially in the evening. On warm summer nights a flowering crinum on the terrace is a real experience.