Crinum Lily, African Queen, medium-size bulb

Description: DESCRIPTION: African Queen is our exclusive offering we originally imported from Africa. This is one of the most beautiful bulbs in our collection of over 1000 crinum varieties. It came to us as an unnamed hybrid, so we have given it a name. The unusual leaves on this plant only rise about 12" but sprawl out like an octopus with wavy edges. The flower scape rises to approximately 30" when mature, and we have had up to 16 buds on one scape. It is a prolific seed producer. Our guess is that it is a cross of stulhmanii and macowanii, but we have no real basis for this other than some of the physical characteristics. There is a small possibility that this is a species bulb, a form of macowanii. The flower buds swell up like balloons that are just being inflated. The bud is white with attractive red-brown stripes on the outside. Once the flower opens, it is white inside. The flowers open in a 2-3 day period, point outwards and do not droop as much as macowanii. The scape is strong and erect and never flops over. These bulbs can live for decades, and this particular bulb will be a prize in your collection in a few years. BACKGROUND: We obtained a small bulb from a grower in Africa in November 2000. The bulb first bloomed in 2002 with just one scape and formed about 8 seeds. By 2006 it still has not formed an offset, but in the summer of 2005, it formed about 6 scapes and produced at least 20 seeds per scape. In the following 3 years the scapes almost doubled in height from the original scape and the flower count went from an original 5 buds to 16. Each year it just got better! GROWING CONDITIONS: This bulb will thrive in full sun and needs good draining soil. Here in northeast FL, zone 9, it starts blooming in early May and continues until about mid summer. The leaves stay green all year. It is very hardy and easy to grow requiring no special care. It will tolerate extended dry periods and will take freezing temperatures at least down to the high teens. Crinum bulbs will survive very long periods out of the ground if left to dry properly. It should be fine outside to at least zone 7b. This would make an excellent container plant in colder climates. DESCRIPTION OF ITEM FOR BID: You are bidding on a medium-size bulb at least 2 years old and about 1" in diameter which should bloom within 2 years. If you start with seeds they should reach a blooming size in 4-6 years. The roots are well developed so it should transplant easily. This is a very exclusive and choice crinum. Bulbs will be freshly dug, shipped bare root and with leaves March-November. In the winter months the leaves may be absent. WE SIZE OUR BULBS APPROXIMATELY BY AGE AS FOLLOWS: A few varieties can take 6 years or more to bloom. Jumbo bulb – has bloomed at least 2 years, close to the maximum size for that particular plant (6+ years old) Large bulb - should bloom this year or next (3+ years old, close to, or at blooming size) Medium bulb - should bloom in 1-2 years (at least 2 years old) Small bulb - should bloom 2-4 years (current year or 1-2 year old offset) Seedling bulb - started from seed (usually in its first year of growth unless otherwise stated) PHOTOS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: These are pictures of our plants, so you know exactly what they look like and what you will receive. The photos show the plant in various stages of growth. Please feel free to contact us for additional information, and click on "Me" following our star rating. Also, we invite you to go to our store (little red door) and look at other items we have for sale.

Price: 25 USD

Location: Middleburg, Florida

End Time: 2024-03-05T23:15:06.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD