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Marcelle's Crinums
Sales and Notes from Marcelle Sheppard
Marcelle Sheppard
Marcelle Sheppard grew daylilies, roses, and cannas before she got a bad case of Crinum fever. Marcelle recalls that her first Crinum because was given to her by her Mother (Maggie Sheffield) who obtained it from Marcelle's grandmother (Sophoronia Sheffield). That first plant was C. x digweedii, with attractive pink-striped flowers. Marcelle reports that her favorite crinums are C. augustum and Burgundy Seedling No. 1; the latter is a plant that she created in her breeding program and has since named 'LADY CHAMELEON '. Visitors have guessed that Marcelle must have 1,000 or more Crinum plants in her two breeding locations. Marcelle explains that she has in excess of 100 named garden varieties but could not begin to count the total number of plants that she has because such number would include many, many unnamed seedlings and their offsets. Over the years Marcelle has provided plants to individuals and gardens worldwide including: Mercer Arboretum (Humble, TX), Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (Columbia, SC), Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, MO), Iron Gate Gardens (Kings Mountain, NC), and many more. Marcelle naturally works with those Crinum species and hybrids that tolerate or enjoy the East Texas climate. She reports that the following are plants that can be expected to do well along the humid Gulf Coast: C. americanum, C. erubescens, Burgundy, Bradley, Ellen Bosanquet, Faye Hornbuckle, C. jagus Rattrayii, C. x powellii Alba, Eagle Rock and Cecil Houdyshell. Marcelle reports that it takes three years for Crinum bulbispermum Jumbo-type hybrids to flower from seed, but it can take longer and such plants may become larger in subsequent years. When she evaluates seedlings Marcelle looks for a number of traits. Does the plant increase well and grow easily. Does the plant produce attractive flowers; does it re-bloom. Is the "look" pleasant and is the scape strong enough to support the blooms.  Marcelle
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