Overview
Crinum powellii 'Album' is a bulbous perennial in the genus Crinum, part of the Amaryllidaceae family. Crinum powellii 'Album' grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates well-drained soil soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include borders and containers. It is native to southern Africa.
About
Crinum powellii 'Album' is a bulbous perennial in the Amaryllidaceae that bears large flowers on leafless scapes. The plant produces a rosette of basal leaves from a tunicate bulb and sends up solid stems that carry umbels of flowers. It flowers in the UK from July to September. The tall, leafless flowering stems place the blooms well above the foliage for clear summer impact.
About the genus
Crinum is a genus of about 180 species of perennial plants that have large showy flowers on leafless stems, and develop from bulbs. They are found in seasonally moist areas, including marshes, swamps, depressions and along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.
Wikipedia contributors, "Crinum", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Crinum
In the garden
Crinum powellii 'Album' belongs to the genus Crinum, a group of around 180 bulbous perennials that typically grow in seasonally moist places in tropical and subtropical regions. As with its congeners, this cultivar arises from a tunicate bulb and forms basal leaves, while the flowers are presented on solid, leafless scapes in umbellate clusters. Give this plant a spot where the soil stays at least seasonally damp rather than bone-dry; natural sites for Crinum include marshy hollows and the margins of streams and ponds. The bulbous habit means it will regrow its basal leaves and produce flowering scapes in the summer months, so avoid positions that bake out completely during the growing season. In UK gardens it suits damp borders, pond edges and any area that benefits from summer moisture. The leafless stems lift the umbels well above surrounding planting, making the flowers an effective seasonal focal point. Expect the inflorescences to appear from July to September, when the scapes carry open, long-lasting blooms above the foliage.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Crinum
- Sunlight
- full sun, partial shade
- Soil type
- well-drained soil
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Exposure
- sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Crinum powellii 'Album' size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- bulbous perennial
- Suggested uses
- borders, containers
- Native to
- southern Africa
- Fragrance
- fragrant
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Crinum powellii 'Album'
- Cultivation
- Plant bulbs in spring in well-drained soil. Protect from severe frost in winter.
- Pruning
- Remove spent flower stems after flowering.
- Propagation
- division of bulbs
Frequently asked questions
How do I grow Crinum powellii 'Album'?
Plant bulbs in spring in well-drained soil. Protect from severe frost in winter.
Where is the best place to plant Crinum powellii 'Album'?
Crinum powellii 'Album' prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Crinum powellii 'Album' need?
Crinum powellii 'Album' grows best in well-drained soil soil. Aim for soil that stays moist.
How do I prune Crinum powellii 'Album'?
Remove spent flower stems after flowering.
Is Crinum powellii 'Album' hardy in the UK?
Crinum powellii 'Album' has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Crinum powellii 'Album'?
Division of bulbs.
More in the Crinum genus
- Crinum longifolium
- Crinum × powelliiswamp lily
- Crinum × powellii 'Ellen Bosanquet'Ellen Bosanquet Crinum
- Crinum × powellii 'Haarlemense'Haarlem Crinum
- Crinum × powellii 'Krelagei'