Crinum Empress of India

Photo taken at night: This is a lovely night-blooming hybrid.

Crinum Empress of India

An article written in 1943 (Herbertia 10: pp. 12-23) by Elizabeth Lawrence describes ‘Empress of India’ as tender in Raleigh, North Carolina.  It is hardy for Marcelle in zone 9, in East Texas. 

Elizabeth Lawrence wrote that ‘Empress of India’ was a night-bloomer with flowers that wilted as soon as the sun hit them the next day.  However, in strong prose she described the beautiful flowers as “milk-white, wine-striped, and heavily scented.”  She also mentioned that the fully expanded flowers are “twelve inches across.”