Crinum asiaticum
C. asiaticum from Steve Lowe
C. asiaticum is a large plant. The dark leaves can be 3 foot long and extend upwards from the central stem. A single bulb can easily reach 5 foot tall, which the flowers being held even higher. In time the plants make large clumps of enormous bulbs. The bulb itself is unusual because there is not much to it. From the basal plate the stout leaves make a pseudostem that can reach a foot or more above ground, but this pseudostem is not a bulb.
A number of related plants are found throughout tropical parts of Asia; these have sometimes been split into several speices, whereas other times they have been treated as variants of C. asiaticum. C. pedunculatum of Austrualia is clearly related to C. asiaticum, and sometimes to two have been lumped together. Similarly, the giant procerum-type plants have been called C. asiaticum var. procerum or C. procerum. Likewise, C. japonicum is clearly part of this large group of related plants. No doubt some of the names are not botanically valid, but that doesn't stop anyone from enjoying these wonderful plants.
In the wild C. asiaticum can be found growing along seashores or in mangrove swamps; clearly it tolerates salt water. In cultivation the plants grow well in typical garden soil if watered adequately and can also be grown as aquatics or semi-aquatic plants.
C. asiaticum has naturalized in many areas throughout the Pacific Ocean including the Marshall Islands, Pitcarin, Palau, Guam, Fiji and many more. On the other hand, it seems to be a native of Singapore, South China, and parts of Indonesia.
Like most Crinum grown in zone 9, C. asiaticum will loose its leaves in hard frosts (e.g., 25 F), but will quickly regrow them in the spring. Various C. asiaticum plants have flourished in Marcelle's zone 9 garden for many years. They even do remarkably well in large (15-20 gallon) containers.
Several beautiful variegated clones exist.
C. asiaticum var. procerum 'Splendens'tall plant reaching into a small tree
(garden of Margie Brown)
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