The biggest $10 bulb I ever bought - Orchid Board

estación seca · #1 10-14-2018, 04:38 PM

This is Crinum powellii alba, from Bill the Bulb Baron. For $10, I was expecting something around the size of a turnip. Instead I got something larger than a softball. This is a hybrid of two South African species, C. bulbispermum x C. moorei. It repeat blooms with long stalks of multiple lily-shaped, white, fragrant flowers.

The biggest bulb I ever bought-crinum_powellii_alba_20181014_seca-jpg

There are Crinums known from every continent, including Antarctica (as fossils.) There are some beautiful ones native to the southeastern US.

Crinums are mostly fully hardy here in Phoenix. Many hybrids are hard far north into the US.

I also got an xAmarcrinum from Bill. It was a little smaller, and cost more. I forgot I did take a photo of both. The xAmarcrinum is on the right.

The biggest bulb I ever bought-crinum_xpowellii_alba_l_xamarcrinum_r_20181013_seca-jpg

The yellow things lying around are dates falling off the palm overhead. We had a pretty good storm a couple of days ago. Even Lulu is so full of fallen dates she stopped eating them.

A couple of years ago I brought home from Miami a walnut-sized seed of Crinum asiaticum. I posted about it here: Giant Spider Lily - Crinum asiaticum

Here it is today:

The biggest bulb I ever bought-crinum_asiaticum_20181014_seca-2-jpg

I just read it's hardy to Zone 8, so it's going into the ground today, too.

kg5 · #2 12-26-2018, 05:48 PM

Hi estación seca.

Trust you had a great Christmas.

How is your bulb going estación?

Dollythehun · #3 12-26-2018, 06:11 PM

You will love your Amaracrinum! Mine is an outstanding performer.

estación seca · #4 12-27-2018, 02:14 AM

Thanks, spent Christmas with family in California.

All grew a little because fall was warm. Now that it's winter they stopped. We might have some frost this weekend. I'm bringing things inside. I harvested all the Dwarf Orinoco bananas, so I will only protect the developing stalk.

WaterWitchin · #5 12-27-2018, 11:01 AM

I have a micro-climate spot on south side of my house that is well protected. Do ya'll think I could successfully grow this? I'm 6a zone, but that area of the yard has a few successful plants that overwinter from 7 or 8 on up.

estación seca · #6 12-27-2018, 12:31 PM

The Pacific Bulb Society has a discussion group that is archived and searchable. I know there are members growing bulbs in west Kansas. I suggest searching their archives on "Amarcrinum hardiness":
Pacific Bulb Society | List

Optimist · #7 12-29-2018, 09:36 AM

I had to look up crinums. I think they are gorgeous. and now, of course, I must have them!

estación seca · #8 12-29-2018, 01:12 PM

They should do well for you if you give enough water. Some are truly tropical, but many hybrids have ancestry from species that tolerate extreme cold.

If you ever visit somewhere Crinum asiaticum is used in landscaping, grab some of the seeds to take home. They are about half the size of a table tennis ball. They sprout easily but very slowly, and are bulb hardy to zone 8 - probably farther north if planted in a warm spot and mulched heavily. They are everywhere in southern Florida and Hawaii.

kg5 · #9 01-01-2019, 06:20 PM

Happy New Year!

DarkDragoness · #10 04-09-2019, 05:10 PM

That is a BIG bulb.