Crinum 'Burbank's White Queen' has been one of my favorite bulbs at the farm. It puts on one massive, beautiful display in the spring—be sure to look at the pictures. All on its own in a wide open field, it has withstood freezes below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and well over 100 degrees. With no irrigation, it continues to grow and bloom reliably.
Blooms: Enjoy 9 plus pure white flowers on each stalk that furl back and show you all of their glory. It is a late April to May bloomer.
Planting: Plant the crinum with the tip of its neck right at or barely above soil level. Crinums perform best with at least 8 hours of sun a day, though a little late-afternoon shade is welcome in the hottest areas. Give it well-drained soil and space bulbs about 3 feet apart; the parent bulbs grow to very large sizes, so give them room. Water regularly the first season while it gets established; after that it is very drought tolerant. It is generally perennial in zones 7-10, and a layer of mulch over the bulb in winter helps in zone 7.
Landscaping Tip: It is not a fast grower. After 10 years, we still don't have massive amounts of baby bulbs. Perhaps that is what will draw some crinum lovers to this bulb: it is not as aggressive as others and seems to fit better in spaces where one might not want a crinum to take over the whole bed. Crinums don't like to be moved, so choose a permanent spot.
Animals: Like most crinums, deer and other animals tend to leave it alone.