Dear all, I can second the remarks of Jay Yourch. In particular, the winter hardiness of crinums is usually under appreciated. I have a row of seedlings of Crinum [bulbispermum X lugardiae] that have survived two winters outdoors in the ground here in central Indiana, with only a good layer of mulch over them in winter. There were blooms on three of those plants just now. C. variabile is also pretty hardy outdoors here, as is C. x-powellii and -- in well-protected spots -- even C. Ellen Bosanquet. Let's hear if for the Crinums! Jim Shields in wet central Indiana At 02:57 PM 6/16/2004 -0400, you wrote: >......... > >The reasons for this are unknown to me but I suspect two problems. First is >that the cold tolerance for many Crinum has been underestimated by most >literature. Second is that the bulbs are expensive relative to other >herbaceous perennials. However, when considering that many multiply well, >will outlive the gardener who planted them, getting better each and every >year, providing a lifetime of enjoyment, Crinum are a bargain. > >Regards, > >Jay Yourch > ************************************************* Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd. P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/ Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA