Cardiocrinum is a small genus in the Liliaceae family whose members are distributed from northern India to Japan. Three species are in cultivation. Cardiocrinum giganteum has been well established in cultivation in England for well over a century. Given the rarity of these plants in eastern North American gardens, it's hard to believe, but Peter Hanson grew C. giganteum in Brooklyn, New York, USA during the second half of the nineteenth century. Although originally introduced long ago, C. cordatum and C. cathayanum have only recently become readily available.
If you have never seen these plants, try to imagine what you might get by crossing a lily and a hosta. They grow best under hosta conditions rather than lily conditions.
Generations of writers have repeated the incorrect notion that these plants are monocarpic. They are not monocarpic. Yes, the flowering stems die after seed set; in fact, they die whether seed is set or not. But so do the fruiting stems of tulips, lilies, fritillaries and a host of other similar plants. The perennial stem (i.e. the basal plate) and its offset bulbs live on from year to year.
The two photos below show two phases in the life of Cardiocrinum cordatum photographed in the garden of Jim McKenney. The plant shown first bloomed in July, 2000, and is now about to bloom again in 2004. The first photo shows the foliage as it appears in early spring. Freezes are still common when this foliage starts to grow, but so far cold damage has not been observed here. Plants not vigorous enough to bloom remain at this stage all season. At this stage they resemble skunk cabbage:
The second photo shows the plant with its two stems about a month later. At this time, the annual stems have elongated, raising the whorl of foliage well above the ground. This is the "hosta on a stick" phase. The plants remain like this for weeks, seemingly inactive. But if you look carefully at the center of the leaf whorl, you will see the slowly differentiating inflorescence. The inflorescence may eventually extend upward another two or three feet. Here is the "hosta on a stick" phase:
Here are three photos of the same plant blooming on July 25, 2004. Now that the plant is in bloom and getting attention, its identity has come into question. This plant seems to answer to Cardiocrinum cordatum glehnii. The first photo shows a fully developed bud, the next photo shows the interior or the flower, and the third photo shows two blooming stems.
Cardiocrinum giganteum Growing in New Jersey for three years. Each year the size and number of leaves increases and soon a flower. Has some offsets that have sent up a single leaf this year. Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg. The photo of the flowering plant was taken by Jane McGary in northwestern Oregon, of plants originating from a Chadwell collection in the early 1990s; planted in rich humus soil and well fertilized, the original bulbs have produced a series of offsets with flowers most years, beginning 5 years after sowing. This species is intolerant of hot, sunny exposures, where the foliage is liable to burn.
This plant has produced a stalk. The following images taken by Arnold Trachtenberg will show periodic changes.
Major reference works covering Cardiocrinum include
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