Crinum americanum

[DelawareJim]

Despite the fact that Robert will disavow ever having met me once it starts to bloom, the Crinum americanum he so graciously allowed me to wrestle from his vegetative filter is producing it's first scape.

Here’s a link to what it’s supposed to look like in bloom.

http://www.marcellescrinums.com/html/cr ... canum.html

For those who missed the meeting, the big event is at the bottom of the list of pics.
http://www.gwapa.org/articles/august2007/

Cheers.
Jim

[krisw]

I thought you'd post a picture of your crinum in your scape! *hint, hint*

I have two crinum plants that Robert gave me out in my pond, and after taking a few weeks to stand upright, they're looking really good outside. This was taken over a month ago, and I'd say they're at least twice as big now:



Still no blooms on mine, however. Do they stink?

[RTRJR]

Good Grief, do they stink! We used to have a neighbor who loved sweet fragrant flowers - the blooms went to her. Finally her husband said something about moving out while she had them in the house, so after that I just cut them off and tossed them before they open. Very sweet, very strong. Sort of like the line about a French house of ill repute.

They are not fragrant full time 24/7. It waxes and wanes depending on the time. Likely matching the activity of whatever its pollinator was.

The first time it bloomed for me we were in the apartment in Silver Spring (University Towers). The garages there were in the basements, heated by exhaust air from the building. I came in from work, got out of the car, smelled something and stopped in my tracks - The Crinum had opened, 13 floors away! And it was strong!

Indoors they bloom sporadically from Easter to about Halloween. On the deck they bloom more regularly, but tend not to start till July and go throuugh early September.

Congrats Jim!

[DelawareJim]

I thought you'd post a picture of your crinum in your scape! *hint, hint*

I have two crinum plants that Robert gave me out in my pond, and after taking a few weeks to stand upright, they're looking really good outside. This was taken over a month ago, and I'd say they're at least twice as big now:



Still no blooms on mine, however. Do they stink?

Kris;

Mine are potted like yours. I'll take a couple of pics over time and post.

Too bad I didn't pick up on this earlier; didn't Louis suggest a Crinum for Franny's tank as a strong vertical accent? Boy didn't we miss an opportunity there!

Cheers.
Jim

[krisw]

Yeah, Luis suggested a crinum, but certainly not this species! But since you mention it, do you know if these will survived submersed?

[DelawareJim]

I think it depends on the depth. I've seen pictures of about 6 inches of leaf tip and the flower scape emerging from a pond, but I don't know if it's a seasonal pond or not. I would suspect it can withstand periods of being totally submerged but I'm not sure about permanent.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... 014157.jpg

Might have to give it a try when my plant needs dividing.

I'm really surprised how small the bud is. I suspect I will only get 1 or 2 flowers on this bloom and the plant will have larger heads when it matures. what's your experience Robert?

Cheers.
Jim

[RTRJR]

The bloom spike tip swells a bit before opening to reveal the buds themselves, but I think the major swelling is after the individual buds are exposed. The plant has multiple flowers per scape, but that may be a maturity thing and definitely resets with moving the bulb - first spikes after a move/reset may br as few as three blossoms - I don't remember any with singles or doubles. My first blooms out on the deck tended to be few flowers. Late August flower spikes should be a lot more - hotter and longer in the situation.

On the deck I did emerse bog planting - exactly as I do with the Cannas, wet feet but no exposed standing water. My first bulb of this Crinum went in a 40-long with maybe 3" of substrate. First leaves had exposed tips only, soon much more air exposure as later foliage was closer to full adult size and spread.. Outdoor foliage is much more verical than under light - reasonably enough. Indoors, also reasonably, 2-tube foliage is more horizontal and darker than 4-tube foliage. .The plant will bloom but sparsely under two, much more bloom (and nitrate uptake) under four.