Cardiocrinum
giganteum
Copyright © 2002 Dunn Gardens. All rights reserved.
Contact: info@dunngardens.org
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| Cardiocrinum giganteum, a lily relative from Western
China, is always a show stopper in the garden. This photograph shows the
plant in active growth. By June the plant has reached six to eight feet
in height and the flowering commences. While the individual flowers are
short lived, two to three weeks of bloom time is typical. The white flowers
(maroon interior markings) are beautiful and fragrant. After pollination
the petals fall off and the swelling ovary lengthens and turns upright from
its formerly pendant position. The flower stalks age beautifully in the
fall and on a dry day, the seed pods split open and shimmering drifts of
delicate seed float down to the ground. This year, for the first time, we
have some seedlings coming up. In another seven years these seedlings should
flower and start the cycle over.
Copyright © 2002 Dunn Gardens. All rights reserved. |