Sunday, August 19, 2007

Late Summer Crinum Favorites

Two favorite Crinums are blooming in the garden now, both are hybrids that have one New World parent, either the Southeastern United States native, Crinum americanum , or its South American counterpart, Crinum erubescens. Both of these species have very fragrant, spidery, white flowers with dark pink filaments. They also thrive on moist soils, as do their hybrids.


Crinum 'Summer Nocturne' is Thad Howard's cross of Crinum erubescens with Crinum moorei. It has large, wide open, sweetly fragrant, white flowers with pink tips. Its tall, purple scapes contrast nicely with its lush, green foliage.


Crinum 'Summer Nocturne'
Crinum 'Summer Nocturne'


Crinum 'Royal White' is the first of the ×digweedii hybrids (Crinum americanum × Crinum scabrum) to bloom in the garden, although a walk around the garden today revealed that others are getting ready. Like 'Summer Nocturne', 'Royal White' also has sweetly fragrant, wide open, white flowers, but instead of pink tips it has pink stripes.


Crinum 'Royal White'
Crinum 'Royal White'

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