Murray Lily
Crinum flaccidum
Family: Amaryllidaceae
What it is like
Crinum flaccidum is a BULB growing to 0.6 m (2ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It is in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.6
Where it is found
Sandy inundated flats of river flood plains.
Australia - New South Wales, South Australia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Root - cooked. Rich in starch, it is a source of arrowroot.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Requires a rich well-drained soil in a sheltered sunny position. Plants are not very frost hardy and are unlikely to succeed outside the mildest areas of the country. Only plant out good sized bulbs and do so at the end of May, planting them quite deeply in the soil. The bulbs are sensitive to transplanting and may take several years to establish. After this, they will usually reproduce rapidly from offsets to produce the overcrowded conditions that stimulate them to flower freely. They will require winter protection even in the mildest areas of the country, a good mulch of dry bracken might be sufficient. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits. It is possible that other members of this genus will also provide edible bulbs.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, placing 2 - 3 seeds in individual pots in a greenhouse. Do not cover the seed. Sow stored seed April/May in a warm greenhouse. Once they have germinated, you can thin each pot to just one plant if required, though we have not found this to be necessary. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not suffer nutritional deficiencies. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first 2 years, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring. Division of offsets in April/May or in September. When divided in the spring, the bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, if done in September, however, they should be potted up and overwintered in the greenhouse.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Habit: Bulb
Hardiness: 9-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist