Cardiocrinum (Giant Lily)

Giant Lilies are some 3 to 5 species native of semi-moist wooods from the Himalayas to Japan. All make for the first 4 to 5 years a basal rosette of ornamental, large heart-shaped leaves before the incredibly tall flower stalks emerges which may gain up to 3m in height. The showy creamy-white trumpet shaped flowers are strongly fragrant. The mother plant will die down after flowering but usually it leaves several young bulbs which gain flowering size in some 2 to 3 years. For any very humus rich, semi-moist, yet well drained soil in a protected, sunny to partially shaded spot.
Sow the thin, paper-like seeds flat on any humus rich, slightly sandy soil in pots. Cover seeds only slightly with soil and store pots outside or in a cold, yet frostfree greenhouse. Cardiocrinum seeds may need one to two stratification cycles (i.e. one or two winter periods) before they will germinate in spring. Keep seedlings preferably frostfree for 2 years with a winter minimum of some 5°C. Transplant bulbs to the garden in mid spring after the last freezing nights.
All are USDA Climate Zone 7/8.
20 seeds per package.

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Cardiocrinum giganteum (Giant Lily)

250 (400)cm, Giant Lily is native of Chinese highlands at some 2.200m and fully hardy in Central Europe. Makes stout plain green leaves with a shiny surface and large, cream-white, strongly fragrant trumpet flowers on a very tall stem. Requires partial shade in a protected spot and a peaty to humus rich, well drained soil which holds back moisture in spring and summer. VII-IX.
20 seeds per package.

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