Crinum 'Marcelle Sheppard', a hybrid by Roy Works

'Marcelle Sheppard', a hybrid created by Roy Works

This miniature plant is a cross between C. oliganthum and Rose City Schoolhouse C. scabrum No. 1.  The plant is not as small as C. oliganthum, but it is small as Crinum hybrids go.  Mr. Works reports that the foliage is 4-8 inches long and light in color, more like the color of C. scabrum than C. oliganthum. 

The scape is about 14 inches tall and the Crinum x 'Marcelle Sheppard' blooms in warm weather (summer).  Mr. Works suggested that it might bloom earlier but that he has not grown it in damp conditions that might facilitate spring growth.  Overall, it looks like a half-size C. x digweedii. 

'Marcelle Sheppard' does produce offsets, but it does not run about the way C. oliganthum does.  To date (early 2006), after several years of garden growth, it has not set seed but perhaps the pollen will be viable on other plants. 

This is a tough plant, perhaps suitable for many gardens.  It has grown in fine, silty, sandy soil in full sun with no extra care or water than nature provided (no fertilizer either).  It is reasonable to hope that in a good flowerbed setting this plant would bloom several times a year and take care of itself against marauding roses and petunias, plants that can sometimes smother less vigorous neighbors.