Crinum asiaticum 'Purpureum'

[ian s]

I have one of these on it's way in the post and was wondering if it's fussy about soil, or more specifically are there any types I should avoid when potting it up? It'll have to be in a pot since not being hardy enough to live outside in the ground all year round. (I wonder if it'll be this big? It's the supplier's photo, not mine so I hope I'm not infringing any copyright)

[MartinNicklin]

Ian that's exactly the same bulb I bought from Farmer Gracy a year ago. Not fussy for soil. Mine is in a pot of bog standard potting compost. Flowered beautifully outside in the summer (I posted a photo on GOTE) and has, to my great surprise, just flowered again indoors. It's leaves go much greener out of the sun but are a lovely purple (as you'd expect!) in full sun and the flower has a lovely scent which fills the surrounding area. It wouldn't be hardy outside in the UK. The bulb (or chopped stem) is as big as it looks and the plant will be massive, making a fine specimen even in the first year. On my dining table at the moment the leaves fan out right the way across. It's a lovely plant and worth the £20 or so for the bulb. The only downside is the way they chop the top of the stem away all of the first leaves from the outer section of stem appear, for want of a better word, circumcised. This looks a bit odd until they can be replaced by undamaged leaves. A mighty fine plant which you will enjoy.

[LostInJapan]

Ian, I think this plant is very tolerant of many soil types, as long as they aren't too basic. I've seen it growing gangbusters in very sandy soils in Florida and here in Japan (growing on dunes right against the sea), as well as deep, volcanic loam, also in Japan. They really like heat, and can take full sun. In your climate I'd keep them as sunny as possible, preferably along a south facing wall where warmth builds quickly during the day. Given those fleshy leaves I'd also be generous with water, though I'd avoid water logging. Lovely, large growing herb. They will flower any time of the year if kept actively growing. I saw this plant last January in Florida. Here in Japan they flower mostly mid summer during the hottest weather.

[David F]

This does okay here in cool-summer San Francisco Bay Area gardens, but where I’ve seen it in hotel resort gardens in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur they are much more impressive in both stature and size, doing well in full tropical desert sun. They can get massive, 8’ tall by across in bloom.

[ian s]

Thanks for the replies, it appears to be quite an easy one then - pretty much any decent soil in the pot, sun and indoors for winter :D

[Joel]

I bought one of these from Jacques Armand at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show last year and then saw them planted en masse in full flower at Monte Palace gardens in Madeira. My plant is healthy in a heated greenhouse but hasn't flowered yet.

[ian s]

Mine were planted 3 weeks ago in 15" pots and ordinary peat based and have started pushing out new growth :D
Martin, I assume your one in the garden is still potted? Or do you plant it out and dig it up for winter?

[MartinNicklin]

Still potted Ian and still indoors. It takes up lots of room but is handsome enough to remain indoors until at least May. I intend to keep it potted, not least because it has flowered well in a small pot (I'm guessing it's an 8 inch pot) and also I literally have no room for it in the garden.

[ian s]

Just in case anyone is interested, at the moment FG have these in their 25% off plus free p&p sale.