A Crinum by any other name still looks like, well… any other unnamed Crinum. I have done many deep dives into the world of naming Crinum. After I come up for air, I still have nothing in my intellectual bag of Crinum name knowledge. There are those out there who could tell me *exactly* which Crinum varieties I grow, but again… that would take more deep dives in which I’m not truly interested in. I just prefer to grow pretty flowers and write. 🙂
So how is it that I have flowers that I don’t know their names? Rest assured, I do call them by name. Just not Botanically specific names. Here is the short list of Crinum that enjoy residing at the Agape Haus Music Studio.
*Hunting Cabin Crinum.
*Ellen Bosenquat (gift)
*James C Hardy (gift)
*Eugenia’s Crinum
*Old iron fence Crinum
*Petite Crinum
*12 Apostles Crinum (Fletcher Farm)
*Bradley Crinum
*Fletcher Farm Homestead Crinum
*Christmas Crinum
*Pink Spider Crinum
*Pale Pink Crinum
*Alba Pure White Crinum
*Swiss Alps Fiddle Contest Crinum
*Miss Margaret’s Crinum
*Milk and Wine Crinum (most common in old homesteads)
*Hollie’s A & M Crinum (baby bulbs)
Most of the Crinum I grow have been salvaged from old Homestead tear-downs. Before the 2018 flood, I had all the beautiful Crinum well marked and organized. Now it is an Crinum Easter Egg hunt. After the gardens were relocated to my studio, the bulbs got mixed up. I’ve been sorting out the various Crinum for the past few years, but it’s taken a while for the bulbs to even bloom again in their new home. If the Crinum bulb is relocated, take great care not to let the bulbs dry out. Keep roots most at all cost or you will lose the following year’s flower display. This is the reason why I always dig flower bulbs the day before shipping, soak them 24 hours and then wrap in moist newspaper. It takes more time and energy than pre-packaged bulbs, but I’m in it for the flower not the finances. (Just ask my fairly frugal, reality-check husband)
So, back to the many unknown names of Crinum…
Crinum foliage looks almost exactly the same for most plants. When digging an old site that is or will be torn down, the flowers are typically not in bloom. I can recognize foliage of various bulbs, so I dig. Then I wait. And wait. And wait. And finally, a bloom! In order to name the Crinum, random thoughts swirl through my head at no neurologically-sound order…
How many flowers are supported on one stem?
What time of year is the bloom?
How deep pink are the cute candy cane stripes?
Have I seen this Crinum before?
Is this variety shown in any of my favorite flower bulb books?
How late will it be before I get to deep dive on Google image for a good idea of the name?
I love the quest for a Crinum name. I love the vivacious flower display. I love the beauty and uniqueness of each bloom. I just really love these old gals.
Enjoy a very small glimpse of Crinum in the photos below. Each of these Crinum bloomed on a single day in April. What’s not to absolutely cherish?
Email me if you’d like to know more about Heirloom bulbs or Crinum.
Happy Gardening, my friends!
Each photo is an unknown Crinum that has been salvaged from homesteads that have been torn down. The foliage looks the same, the blooms are different. Perhaps the only difference between flowers is the number of blooms, or maybe the shade of the candy cane stripe. Or perhaps the Crinum is a petite flowering beauty or maybe just plain white. There are botanical experts that can distinguish between the smallest of differences, which I find fascinating.
Crinum are a staple in the Heirloom garden.
Nowadays, one has to pay upwards of $50-$75 per bulb, and it’s a hard pass to even find one at a local stop. I’d ship more Crinum out if they weren’t so massive and heavy.
Heirloombulbgirl 
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