Oh My Goodness

Just moved to a new house (new to me) and I've been watching 4 clumps of Crinums for about 3 months now. Didn't think they would bloom this year cause the neighbors said the folks before me kept them mowed to the ground most of the time. Since no one here ever saw a bloom they couldn't tell me what color they were or anything about them. So I had assumed they were a deep maroon like the others around here. Leaves on the plants are almost 6 foot long when stretch out, slick and shiney.
Boy what a surprise...they are even prettier than the maroon and have a faint fragrance of gardina.....Terry said he thought they were the "Milk and Wine" like the ones on the Plant Data Base....looks pretty close to me....
I am going to dig these in the fall and seperate them, they are growing almost on top of each other....I would love to have some diffrent colors if anyone is intrested in a trade.......... :o)

Absolutely stunning flower!

Wonderful! But I wonder if they are a crinum. I thought all crinums had leaves first, which died down and then the bloom stalk came up much later. Am I wrong? Whatever they are, I'd love some. Maybe we can find something to trade.

They are crinums. Woodspirt you must be thinking of Lycoris or Amaryllis Belladonna.

Willow I think you may find they like to be the way they are. Someone I know has a huge clump in the garden which is feet long and so congested the upper bulbs are totally out of the soil

flutterby, you are right, of course. Thanks

Mark, I think you may be right..I have since learned the more congested and crowded they are the more they seem to bloom... But I have an acquaintance that dug hers up and separated them two years ago and they have just this summer put on a couple of piddly blooms. According to her they were full of blooms and she wanted more so she separated and moved them... I don't think she will do that again anytime soon.... Then others let them grow out on top, under and move them every year and they bloom like crazy.....maybe hers was just a flukee...... :o)

This message was edited Thursday, Aug 21st 9:33 AM

I know from time to time we have to separate our plants to make more or share or whatever but I wonder in this case if you remove the bulbs on the outside and not disturbed the rest if you will still interfere with the blooming cycle of the undisturbed bulbs....anybody out there know? How does everyone else divide there crinums? And how do they bloom afterwards?...:0)

flutterby, please email me in regards to our trade. Thanks

WilloWasp: Bulbs are so reliable in general, that I can't imagine that disturbing them this fall and replanting them elsewhere will harm them. You might try a few from the outside and see if they bloom next year. Apparently these like to be close to the top of the soil like irises. Would you be willing to share a few? I have ajuga (good for dry shade) and will take some cuttings of some bruggies this year, specifically Isabella, a beautiful soft pink. I also have obedient plant and some dark blue (almost purple) Dutch iris (this is the one commonly called Blue Flag). E-mail me if you're interested.........