Crinum lily

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; light afternoon shade helps in very hot, dry sites.

Water

Water regularly during active growth, allowing the surface soil to dry slightly between waterings. Established plants tolerate short dry spells, but flower better with consistent moisture.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; avoid cold, waterlogged ground.

Height

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), widening as offsets develop

Flowers

Summer into autumn, with intermittent flowering over a longer season in tropical climates; fragrant white flowers with narrow, spreading petals.

Foliage

Evergreen. Large rosettes of broad, glossy green, strap-shaped leaves with arching tips.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.6 ft (0.18 m)

2. After 1 year

   5 ft (1.5 m)

   full size

About 1 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the bulb's neck at or just above soil level, leaving room for the clump to widen.
• Water deeply during active growth, but do not leave container plants standing in saucers of water.
• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring according to the label.
• Mulch around the roots without covering the bulb's neck.
• In frost-prone areas, move container plants into a bright, frost-free place before cold weather and reduce watering.
• Divide only when necessary; established clumps flower best when left undisturbed.

Pruning. Remove yellow or frost-damaged leaves at the base once they have died back. Cut spent flower stalks near their base unless you want seed, and leave healthy green leaves intact.

Spring

Plant bulbs or repot crowded container plants once frost risk has passed and temperatures are rising.

Spring

Apply fertiliser and refresh mulch, keeping the bulb's neck clear.

Summer

Water during dry spells and inspect leaf bases for chewing pests.

Late summer

Remove spent flower stalks and retain healthy foliage.

Autumn

Move containers under cover before frost where the plant cannot overwinter outdoors.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants frost-free and water sparingly, without allowing the root ball to become completely dry.

• Use a single mature clump as an architectural focal point beside a warm patio.
• Plant behind lower foliage plants in a tropical border to create contrasting leaf sizes.
• Grow in a large, stable container near seating where the flower fragrance can be enjoyed.
• Use in sheltered coastal gardens, set back from the most exposed salt spray.

Garden styles it suits: Modern tropical, Architectural minimal, Coastal, Luxury resort, White garden and Moon garden.

Plant it with: Canna, Elephant's ear, Ginger lily, Cast-iron plant and Liriope.

Wildlife: The fragrant flowers can attract moths and other nectar-feeding insects. It is not a substitute for locally native plants that support specialist wildlife.

• Bulb rot in cold, wet soil: improve drainage, keep the bulb's neck exposed and reduce winter watering.
• Frost-scorched leaves: shelter plants from freezing weather; remove dead foliage after the risk of further frost has passed.
• Lily caterpillar in Australia: inspect for striped caterpillars and damaged leaf bases, remove larvae promptly and use a locally approved caterpillar treatment if needed.
• Poor flowering after division or in deep shade: leave the clump undisturbed, provide more light and avoid excessive nitrogen feeding.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. All parts contain poisonous alkaloids, especially the bulb; ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and potentially serious poisoning. Keep bulbs away from children and animals, and seek medical or veterinary advice promptly after ingestion. Sap may irritate skin.

• Beach spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis)

  Its white flowers have a conspicuous central membranous cup joining the stamens; Crinum asiaticum has separate, exposed stamens without that cup.

• Queen Emma lily (Crinum asiaticum 'Queen Emma')

  This cultivated form of the same species has bronze-purple foliage and pink-flushed flowers rather than the usual green leaves and white flowers.

Crinum comes from the Greek krinon, meaning lily, and asiaticum refers to the plant's Asian origin.

Propagation. Separate well-rooted offsets in spring or early summer, keeping as many roots intact as possible. Fresh seed can also be sown in warmth, but seedlings take several years to reach flowering size.

Accepted botanical name

Crinum asiaticum

In the US and Canada

Native in Pacific Basin. Introduced in the lower 48 states and Pacific Basin.

Native range

Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, China Southeast, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is. and India.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.