Crinum Lily - Oh, you beautiful slobs!

They are getting bigger. And bigger. I've had them for years and years.
And while they are durable, grow on the north side of the house with
the greatest of ease and bloom each year, I can't help but to wonder
why I keep them.

On one hand I am rather fond of them because I've had them for
so long. But darned if they don't hang around with their foliage draping
all over the ground looking sloppy. It's not that they are not healthy, heck,
the foliage stands up strong as far as it can, but those super long straps
are a bit much to hold up there for the old gals.

I'm beginning to wonder if they would not be better suited in a big urn of
good height, but then I'd have to worry about watering them all of the time.

Any suggestions other than giving the silly things a major trim?

(scissors laying here looking at me as I type)

Karen

Oh, Karen, sometimes we just have to accept the quirks of our loved ones.....But you didn't post a pic so I don't know how "bad" they look. Are they getting goo strong sun and plentiful water? That can help them grow more strongly and less likely to flopp all over the place. Do they need thinning? That can help too.

Crinums can be "untidy" in appearance, but those who know Crinums expect it, even though others don't understand.

Try to find some beauty in their casual, relaxed joy of life. Thy're like boistrous messy puppies, you know. You love 'em anyway.

Robert.

Hello Robert,

Yes, they are getting plenty of sunshine and water. They don't need to be
thinned as they are spaced quite well. :-)

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas for the sloppy foliage. Looks
like they are going to get a whacking.

(chop chop!)

Karen

If you chop the foliage you will impair the plant's ability to feed itself and you won't get as many flowers. I would also not recommend putting them in an urn/container unless you have somewhere such as a garage or basement to keep them dormant in the winter - exposed containers can freeze solid and that would kill the bulbs. Most crinums just have sloppy foliage - c'est la vie.

A suggestion would be some company of other plants like strategically placed shrubs that will stay small that could help fill in the area and give shape without blocking out all the sun and help hide the exess flopping foilage. I also use small foilage plants to help camouflage some of my lilys once they are done blooming but still need some sun.