Plantoftheweek

WHITE CRINUM

HERE’S a whopping bulb for a sunny spot. Crinum — relatives of the daffodil and amaryllis plants — have beautiful lily flowers held in loose clusters atop tall, thick stems. The result of a cross between two African species, Crinum x

powellii has candy pink flowers that appear during late summer and can grow more than a metre high. It’s a fine plant, but C. x powellii Album (pictured) has pure white flowers and is even more aristocratic. The fresh blooms are lovely for cutting, too, and they last well in water. Any soil will do, but welldrained conditions in good light suit the plant best. Propagate in spring, just before growth begins, by lifting up clumps and teasing out individual bulbs. Over time, the bulbs bulk up to form enormous untidy clumps more than a metre across. They look great semi-naturalised on the edge of a shrubbery, or at the back of a large border. However, in tiny gardens, they will need to be kept under control.