Cardiocrinum giganteum (Giant Himalayan Lily)
Family: Liliaceae
Origin: Himalaya, China
Location: Asian Plants
Accession: 1979
Cardiocrinum are large bulbous perennials with heart-shaped
leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers resembling lilies, followed by erect oblong
seed capsules.
C. giganteum is a perennial to 2m in height, with leaves to
30cm across, and terminal racemes of fragrant, trumpet-shaped white flowers
marked with purple inside the trumpet. It grows best in moist but well-drained,
deep, humus-rich, fertile soil. It is monocarpic, the bulbs dying after
flowering. It can be propagated from seed or from bulbous offsets; from seed it
can take up to 7 years to flower.
Thanks to Maggie Gowland for photographs.
