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Burgundy Hybrids

'Liberty Bells'

C. bulbispermum Jumbo x Rose City Schoolhouse

Crinum bulbispermum White Green Jumbo

The original Jumbos were dark-colored, pink or red-pink.  Only over time did variants emerge.  The exact heritage of the C. bulbispermum Jumbos is unknown, but it may be complex because, by selfing them or crossing different seedlings, light variants began to emerge.  It was a wonderful surprise when the green-white variants emerged. 

‘Bayou Traveler’
(a cross between C. oliganthum and C. flaccidum)

This cross produced a great plant, sort of like a beefed up C. oliganthum; Marcelle selected a clone and has recently named it 'Bayou Traveler'.  The plants are about twice as large as regular C. oliganthum (i.e., 'West Indies Mini'), and they are much more prolific growers. 

C. macowanii x Rose City Schoolhouse

In addition to crossing No. 1 and No. 2, Marcelle has used the Rose City Schoolhouse C. scabrum plants to hybridize with other species of Crinum. This page shows some of her results in crosses with various C. macowanii clones. Some of the flowers are astonishingly beautiful, with subtle pinks or recurved petals.

C. moorei rubra x Rose City Schoolhouse

This cross was a collaborative effort.  Marcelle Sheppard sent pollen from the Rose City Schoolhouse plants to Mr. Hannibal.  Mr. Hannibal used the pollen to set seed on C.  moorei (rubra type).  After seeds set he sent some back to Marcelle and she grew out 2 plants.  One plant produces white flowers with dark keels, and one has red-pink flowers (with white centers).  The contrast between the two siblings is interesting, one "striped" and one more "solid." 

Champagne hybrids

The 'Champagne' series is a Marcelle Sheppard creation, obtained with lots of years of waiting and prudent culling. The original cross was C. bulbispermum 'Alba' x C. flaccidum (yellow form). The F1 progeny were unexceptional, mostly being pale- or dull-white. However, the F2 progeny (F1 x F1) produced some especially beautiful pale pink-flowered clones. Marcelle has decided that some of these colors are a new Crinum color; she has called it "champagne" to acknowledge the pale pink overlaid upon a pale shimmering and diffuse creamy gold and green.

Crinum bulbispermum, 'Jumbo' hybrids

Crinum bulbispermum Jumbos are hybrids produced by Mr. Hannibal, they may be Pink or White, and they have large amounts of C. bulbispermum in their heritage.  Perhaps other species are represented as well.

Crinum 'Emerald'

After growing out many seedlings and over many years, Marcelle produced what she calls “Green-White” hybrids.  She has several but concentrated on Green-White No. 1 (best color in her opinion) and Green-White No. 2 (almost as good in color).  All of the Green-White hybrids remain unnamed.  They have white tepals with green keels (no tan or pink in the keels). 

Miscellaneous Sheppard Hybrids

Crinum Mermaid

This C. x digweedii-type hybrid was produced by Marcelle Sheppard.  It is an good example of the possibilities that can be obtained by repeating various crosses but using superior parents.

Dr. Shaw and Sheppard Seedling Crinum blooming

This seedling is one of the benefits of working with Crinum; sometimes the fertile plants just refuse to wait till you can track them down for pollination.  They don't have time for bloom quarantines, etc.  Sometimes, in a big garden like Marcelle's, a few plants go ahead and set seed just because they are in the mood.  

Rose City Schoolhouse Hybrids

Rose City is a small town near Vidor, TX. Two similar Crinum scabrum-like plants were found growing around the schoolhouse. They are fertile, accept pollen from each other and set seed.