How To Care For A Crinum Lily in Germany

Ask the Expert: What sort of crinum is it on the photograph?

I found in 2008 in Daytona, FL a seed in the shape of a potato under plants with long sword-shaped leafs and flowers like the photograph shows. Put into earth, a plant grew for now 2 years without showing blossoms. A specialist of the Tuebingen University told me, it should be some sort of crinum. Can you give me the name of it and hints how to care it, so it will bloom? We live in Germany and have winters with frost onto – 20°C.
So it must be kept in the house during winter – but where there? Thank you for answering – Joerg Ekert in Kusterdingen, Germany

Plant Expert Reply:
Joerg,

The flower is a type of Crinum. As to which species of Crinum, I can only make an assumption — would be my guess would be Crinum angustum commonly known as Queen Emma Crinum. Most types of  Crinum can withstand temperatures as low as -10° Celsius.  In your case you can either, plant the bulbs in the warmest winter spot in your yard and with a good covering of mulch or plant them in a pot that can be moved in to a garage or shed after a frost. If the lily is in a pot, reduce the watering when you move it inside. You don’t want to move it into the house, but in a non-heated area that doesn’t go below -10° Celsius. This will still allow the bulb to have a proper dormancy period, which should initiate the blooming cycle.

Hope this information was helpful.