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DESCRIPTION:

JOHN'S BID The pure white, chalice-shaped flowers are unique in our collection. This hybrid is very rare and has never really been offered to the public before. We are introducing a scarce few bulbs for sale in 2018. The flowers hold up well even in the summer heat, and the long blooming season is a real plus. This is another one of Dr. David Lehmiller's rare hybrids. He is the world's foremost crinum collector and hybridizer. At first it will be slow to offset and form new bulbs but, once mature, it will start producing new offsets on a regular basis, maybe a couple per year. Starting with three small bulbs in 2007, we now have about 40 bulbs. The flowers open sequentially, and it is a very reliable bloomer. We have recorded blooms from early June into November, a nice, long blooming season. We have observed as many as 16 flowers on scapes to 40" tall. Our largest 'mother' bulb measured 5 1/2" in diameter when we last moved it several years ago. When mature, we would classify this as a medium-sized crinum.

We grow over 1000 different crinum, including about 350 of our own hybrids.

BACKGROUND:

JOHN'S BID [C. paludosum x (C. flaccidum yellow x C. americanum)] Note: (flaccidum yellow form x americanum) = 'Little Stinker', so paludosum was pollinated with pollen from 'Little Stinker' to produce this hybrid. This is a Dr. Lehmiller hybrid that we received in a trade with another collector. Dr. Lehmiller amassed the world's best collection of species crinum having traveled to many foreign countries to collect them. Most of the hybrids that he meticulously created had never been done before and probably will never be duplicated again, because probably only a handful of people have access to these species bulbs. We are proud to have over 100 of his rare hybrids in our collection and will introduce them for sale as they multiply. Very few of them form seeds and most multiply slowly, if at all. Any of them will make fantastic pollen donors for anyone interested in crinum hybridization. Some of his hybrids have as many as 7 different species in their genetic makeup which results in highly varied specimens.

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:

We don't know how cold hardy this will be. It does well here in northeast Florida, zone 9, but we do not think it would survive outside below zone 7+. This is a very hardy and easy to grow bulb requiring no special care. It tolerates a wide range of soils (but prefers rich soil). In zone 7+, we would recommend planting it a bit deeper and mulching heavily in the winter. In zone 7, or below, it needs to be a pot plant and protected from freezing temperatures. Bulbs can survive nicely out of the ground for very extended periods if allowed to dry. They prefer full sun, but partial shade is OK. They will also make excellent, large container plants.

DESCRIPTION OF ITEM FOR BID:

You are bidding on a medium-size bulb at least 2 years old and about 1-2" in diameter which should bloom within 2-3 years. They don't like being disturbed, so it could take one year to "settle in." Bulbs will be freshly dug, shipped bare root and with leaves March-November. In the winter months the leaves may be absent.

WE SIZE OUR BULBS APPROXIMATELY BY AGE AS FOLLOWS: A few varieties can take 6 years or more to bloom.

Jumbo bulb – has bloomed at least 2 years, close to the maximum size for that particular plant (6+ years old)

Large bulb - should bloom this year or next (3+ years old, close to, or at blooming size)

Medium bulb - should bloom in 1-2 years (at least 2 years old)

Small bulb - should bloom 2-4 years (current year or 1-2 year old offset)

Seedling bulb - started from seed (usually in its first year of growth unless otherwise stated)

PHOTOS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

These are pictures of our plants, so you know exactly what they look like and what you will receive. The photos show the plant in various stages of growth. Please feel free to contact us for additional information, and click on "Me" following our star rating. Also, we invite you to go to our store (little red door) and look at other items we have for sale.