There have been times while learning to garden in zone 10 when I’ve felt less like a gardener and more like a member of a landing party from the Starship Enterprise.
With winters that feel like summers, armies of iguanas feasting their way through yard after yard, warnings of Burmese pythons in the Everglades, and giant African-snails eating the stucco off of buildings, I sometimes wonder on what planet Florida is actually located and why Scotty isn’t beaming me up.
It’s the same thing with plants. They’re different and they’re big in this subtropical world — and each time I step outside, I might as well be boldly gardening where no one has gardened before.
I have a gardening friend who’s lived in the area for decades. He approaches each day as the chance to meet a new plant, and he’ll often carry a water bottle, some damp paper towels, a small pair of scissors, and some plastic bags each time he leaves his house to go to a nursery or box store. What others call shoplifting, he calls collecting.
While I haven’t reached that point because I tend to follow the law, I now make it a habit to look through people’s yard debris for any bromeliads. I figure it’s all part of Star Fleet’s orders to seek out new life forms.
Nevertheless, my number one rule when planning a landscape project still applies here. Pay attention to what’s planted in the landscaped areas around shopping centers and corporate centers.
My logic is that they’ve already paid a landscape architect to choose the plants that work best for the area. I take some photos, go to a nursery, identify the plants, and then decide if the plants are right for my garden.
Such was the case with a plant that seems to be growing everywhere in zone 10, from private homes to public parks to shopping center entrances. With stiff sword-like leaves, a clumping habit, a thick trunk wrapped in a paper-like bark, and a long flower stalk, it looks tropical, exotic, and majestic.
More importantly, it’s large enough for one or two to take up a large chunk of the understory in my front bed — more economical than purchasing a lot of smaller shrubs.
When I learned its name, though, I had to do a double take.
The plant is Crinum Lily, a name more suitable for a species harvested from the planet Crinum and a lily like none I’ve ever known before — most likely because it’s not a lily at all. Crinums are actually part of the Amaryllis family — and just as those plants reveal their flowers for a holiday show, the Crinum sends up a thick spike that splits open to reveal a cluster of thinly petalled blooms — dozens of them.
In South Florida landscapes, two varieties are most often planted. The first is Crinum asiaticum, which has long green leaves and sweetly scented white flowers. The other is Queen Emma (Crinum augustum), with dark green leaves brushed with deep purple and burgundy and white blooms. For my front bed, I went with the Queen.
Both varieties are huge, growing to about 5’ in height and width. They generally like full to partial sun, and will flower at various times throughout the year, although they prefer to bloom in warmer weather.
About the only maintenance the plant needs, other than watering and fertilizing, is a general cleaning up to remove browned leaves and spent flower stalks.
Crinums propagate in two ways. The first are pups, which sprout from the base of the plant. These can remain to form a clump of Crinums or removed to be planted elsewhere in the landscape.
At the end of flowering, smooth, tuber-like bulbils often appear at the end of the flower stalk. In the wild, these will weigh down the stalk until it reaches the ground, where it eventually germinates.
Or . . . the bulbils can be harvested and planted elsewhere in the garden.
Taking a cue from my gardening friend, that’s exactly what I did. Joe and I were visiting a local doctor’s office where masses of Crinum asiaticum were planted on islands in the parking lot. On the way to the building’s front door, I noticed some of the flower stalks held bulbils. I picked a few, tucked them in my pocket, and then planted them when I returned home. Two sprouted.
With two purchased Queen Emmas in the front and two sampled asiaticums in the back, I’d say that this particular planet has been quite friendly. Even the bands of marauding iguanas seem to be ignoring the Crinums.
And that’s a good enough reason for Scotty to leave me where I am.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Man 
Great post! My friend has a Queen (methinks) in her garden, by your description. I was just thinking how I could ‘borrow’ from her mother plant (mother ship?) to plant into my yard. Ha! Now I know what to do. Cheers from Zone 9 where the maters are juicy and the lizards are small. ;D
Hi Shannon. Go for it. The quickest way is to get a pup, but it’s not impossible to grow your own — although I’m not sure at what point a self sown plant will be fully mature. Enjoy your maters!
Dear Kevin,
Just discovered your website. I love the words and the beautiful photos.
S
Hello Sidon! So glad you found me and enjoyed the site. I appreciate your leaving a comment. Happy gardening!
Fabulous. I like the sound of your planet! Some crinums (powelii) will survive outside here in milder parts, but I doubt these would. You can keep the iguanas and snails though, we have enough (smaller) pests of our own! Great post. D
Hi Daniel. When I was learning more about my crinums, I learned of all the other crinums that can grow in other climates. It’s a fascinating world in which we live. By the way, are you sure you wouldn’t like at least one iguana? 🙂
Can it be trained to do ironing or work with spreadsheets? If so, I’ll take a pair and throw in free accommodation and 4 weeks annual holiday (we’re a bit more generous this side of the Atlantic ;-))
LOL, Daniel! LOL. Actually, I think they’re a bit lazy — just sunbathing, eating, and pooping. I think they would become the houseguests that never leave. 🙂
I have all those functions covered with my partner thank you very much. The novelty wore of some time ago 😉
Ha ha! By the way, I’ve added your site to my blog roll. I truly enjoy exploring it!
Thank you Kevin. I am honoured. I can see I am keeping very good company there 🙂
My pleasure!
Frankly, I wish Scotty would beam you up right here! (Miss you) But, I digress.
Call it what you will, shoplifting, collecting, smuggling. Haven’t we been charged with propagating the planet? I call it “smuggling.” I like to have souvenirs from wherever I’ve traveled, and I prefer live ones that I can enjoy from year to year. It’s fun to watch them grow and memories of prior destinations are easily recalled.
Like your fellow gardener-friend, I bring ziplock bags along with me all the time. They’re the last item I pack and the first to be unpacked! I don’t call that theft,
“self-propagating” is the term I use. A quick snip, a wet paper towel, and I’m set. My souvenirs originate from destinations such as, Venice, Rome, South Carolina, and beyond. On the flights home, they reside in my carry on, and I’ve yet to be stopped by “Plant Security.” I like to think of it as spreading the worldwide wealth! You’re the only one I’ve ever “confessed” this to… Kevin, will you give me absolution?
Miss you too, K. 🙂 Thankfully, you haven’t been stopped at customs for your plant imports — although I do love the idea of bringing home souvenirs! Your secret is safe with me — and with anyone else who happens to read your comment. 🙂
P. S. You’re photos are beautiful!
Thanks. I like to think it has more to do with my models than the photographer. 🙂
Good luck with them !!! They are beautiful !! Give your iguana’s a kiss from me 😀
Hi Gwennie. LOL! They’ll be no iguana kissing my garden! 🙂
ha !
The Away Team sounds successful! I’ve been known to eyeball parking lot specimens and pocket seeds from neighbors’ sidewalk edging plants as well. This foreign landscape lends itself to a more arid landscape than your alien explorations, so our parking lots tend to be edged in rosemary or skullcaps.
Hi PD. I’m glad to be part of the Away Team — as long as I don’t have to wear the red shirt. Those were the expendable crew members on “Star Trek” — the first ones to be lost on the planet’s surface. That being said, I’m glad we live on a world with varied landscapes. It makes for interesting exploration. 🙂
No red shirt for you.
🙂
The queen is beautifully regal. Looks like a great planet to be living on. 🙂
Hi Jean. It’s a nice planet — but the local iguana tribes are a bit much. 🙂 Hope all is well in Maine.
You are amazing in gardening skills and writing skills!
Aw, shucks. Thanks Maria.
Stunning photos, as always! 🙂 I too would have opted for ‘her majesty’, with that svelte elegant look.
Your post reminded me of the Star Trek episode where Spock got zapped by one of the plants which resulted in what is probably the only Vulcan kissing scene in the entire history of the franchise, LOL
You were kidding about the stucco-munching giant snails… right????
Hello M’Lady. I remember that episode — and no, I am not kidding about the stucco-munching snails. Sadly, they are yet another invasive species in south Florida. My phasers are on stun. 🙂
A beautiful plant! Some gardeners where I used to live in North Carolina grew Crinum Lily – but I certainly never saw them around shopping centers! Very true, though, that that is a good way to find out the hardy plants of the local area!
Hi Indie. Looking at local businesses and their plantings has always worked for me. No need to redesign the wheel! 🙂
Great post. Marauding iguanas yikes! Be careful out there
Oh, Dorris — you can’t even imagine. 🙂
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