Now if you like to grow lilies, why not grow the biggest lily in the world? Crinum Americanun is a white flowering cultivar that is native to south Florida. Common names for this plant are Florida Swamp Lily, String Lily, but most refer to it as White Crinum.

The large clump-forming lily can grow to 5 feet. The light green leaves are 4-5 inches wide and can grow to 5 feet long. The white flowers can be 6 inches across and droop long slender flower tubes. The flowering season is long with summer and fall being the most abundant time. This fast growing bedding plant also can have a pleasant night fragrance.

The crinum is very easy to plant and grow. It is cold hardy in zones 8 and higher. The foliage recovers quickly from a winter freeze. Sometimes attacked by grasshoppers or caterpillars, they are not a serious threat to the huge lily. A rust-colored leaf spot disease (botrytis) can be controlled by simply pruning out the infected leaves. A full sun plant for best flowering, the crinum would like rich, organic soil, but does fine in Florida sand.

The white crinum americanun is the most common in our landscape. Dwarf hybrids with heights under two feet can have white, purple, or striped flowers. The most awesome of the cultivars has to be ‘Queen Emma’ crinum agustum. This tropical plant has purple leaves with purple and white striped flowers.

If you don’t have a crinun in your yard now, try one, you‘ll love it. You will ‘wow’ your northern friends with the biggest lily in the world.

Good Growing,
Jim