A Tale of Two Amarcrinums

Fred Biasella fbiasella@watertownsavings.com
Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:53:12 PDT
Hi Jim,

I purchased 3 bulbs of xAmarcrinum "Summer Maid" from White Flower Farm many many years ago and the bulbs have multiplied very well, but I have not tried to plant them outdoors yet. I have mine planted in a large and VERY HEAVY!!!! pot that I lug outdoors in the spring. Mine bloom very reliably around the end of August into September give or take a week or two and their blooming cycle seem to be affected by the amount of water, day length and cooler weather. 

This particular cv. has very pretty, numerous and fragrant pink blossoms that are well shaped and even, very unlike some of the others I've tried which have rather misshapen and un-even blooms. I too may try to plant (test) a bulb or two in a protected spot this winter...stay tuned. Given the parentage, I think they'll do fine especially if they're planted deeply and in a sunny spot.

Good Luck,
Fred Biasella
Cambridge (Boston) MA 
USDA Zone 6b
 

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of James Waddick
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 11:39 AM
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: [pbs] A Tale of Two Amarcrinums

Dear Friends,
	A few years ago, a generous PBS member sent me a bulb of 
xAmarcrinum. It has grown well and expanded in its nursery pot, but I 
have not yet been brave enough to try it in the ground. I'd sure 
appreciate any experience with hardiness of this hybrid outdoors in 
Zone 5/6.
	Ths fall, I'll pot up one of the suckers and winter it in the 
green house along with its parent, but plant the 'pup' outdoors next 
spring. Still no bloom.

	Two years ago I saw bulbs of xAmarcrinum at a local garden 
center. You know those things hanging on the wall in plastic bags 
from some anonymous Dutch wholesaler?  Since my original had not 
bloomed, I bought a second for a different test subject. This bulb 
also went into a similar size and shape pot and had produced 2 pups 
before the end of the first season. It has continued to grow more 
vigorously than  my first specimen. I was suspicious.

	Now it has sent up a flower spike and my fears were confirmed 
- C. x powellii and a not very good one at that.

	Crinum x powellii is a good hardy Crinum for me, but I not 
need more. I plan to donate some to the BX later this year.

	When should xAmarcrinum actually bloom and will it even do so 
in a large nursery pot? Together with hardiness comments, maybe I 
should just give up on this all together.

	I need encouragement or dis -....

	The best of times, the worst of times........... 
	Best	Jim W.

-- 
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph.    816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
	Summer 100F +




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