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CRINUM jagus

Image of Crinum jagus

Carol Cloud Bailey

Family

Liliaceae

Botanical Name

CRINUM jagus

Plant Common Name

St. Christopher Lily, Swamplily

Special Notice

This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.

General Description

Beautiful with large white fragrant flowers in summer and autumn, swamplily's foliage is elegant and graceful. An evergreen perennial that grows from bulbs, it is native to tropical western Africa. Its long but wide strap-like leaves are lush green and are held in a gentle upright V-shape. The midrib is like a keel on the leaf underside. Intermittently across the warm months, a short flower stalk bears long-tubed flowers that have a five-petaled white flower. Each blossom is usually fragrant of vanilla and and is roughly cup-shaped or tulip-like.

Grow swamplily in full to partial sun in a moist, fertile well-draining soil that is not alkaline. Amend alkaline or sandy soils with organic matter for success. It tolerates the lightest of winter frosts and will recover in spring. Use it as a clumping accent in a tropical foundation bed or mixed border. It may also be grown in containers on the patio or pool deck.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 8

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    10 - 14

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Bulb or Corm or Tuber

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    18"-26" / 45.7cm - 66.0cm

  • Width

    24"-30" / 61.0cm - 76.2cm

  • Bloom Time

    Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall

  • Native To

    Western Africa

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Average

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Wet Site

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    No