Top 5 Crinum Lilies to Plant Now for Hot and Humid Southern Gardens – 2025
Some Southern gardeners start hibernating in the a/c now. Plants can’t do and I see lots of perennials burn up, sprawl, flag, or rot from the summer swelter. So many perennials, like so many snowbirds, just don’t want to be here. But some of us love it — and some plants thrive in it.
Why fight it? Why suffer the disappointment of flagging flowers? For decades, I’ve sought tough perennials that embrace the heat and humidity.
One special lily that’s been a Southern favorite for centuries pushes up colorful, fragrant flowers now. We have ten thousand flowering crinum lilies in June and July; our farm is a sea of pink, white and burgundy.
How to Choose the Best Crinum Lily Varieties: 3 Key Questions
Crinum lilies should be on your must-grow list. But there are hundreds of cultivars – lots of them collectors only, mother’s only, could love. There are dozens of duplicate colors, convoluted names, and minute differences. We grow all those, then we cull out the duplicates and evaluate the best of the lot.
Choosing the best varieties can be complex. I’ve written an entire book on it. But here it is simplified. But here the three-question hack for picking your crinum lily:
1. When do you want it to flower?
2. How big of plant do you have room for?
3. What color lily do you love?
Of course, the questions, the plants, and the answers differ by location. Carolina heat is way different from Texas heat. Steve Lowe, former curator of the San Antonio Botanical Garden and long-time crinum breeder, contributed to my book and to this list. Our experience spans over half of the United States, from Charleston to San Antonio. The climate, soils, and therefore crinum behavior differ tremendously.
My website guy told me I have to say this next cringy bit; Here is the list of the top 5 Crinum lilies recommended by leading experts like Jenks Farmer, horticulturist and author of Deep-Rooted Wisdom, and horticulturist Steve Lowe.
We didn’t agree on them all. Partially due to to climate and soil variations, appraisals vary from South Carolina to Texas. So, there are six crinum on the list — number six is controversial.
1. Crinum ‘Ellen Bosanquet’ Best for: Reliable blooms, deep color, fragrance.
This Southern favorite, introduced in the early 1900s, remains the standard for Crinum excellence. Its wine-colored trumpet blooms and spicy fragrance make it a standout. It’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and blooms repeatedly from late spring through summer, skipping the dry days of September and August and often flowering into November.
- Height: 3–4 feet
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
2. Crinum × powellii alba Best for: Classic Southern charm, clean white flowers, cut flowers.
This heirloom is a staple in historic Southern landscapes. Clear white flowers open around Father’s Day. It’s ideal for creating nostalgic charm, especially near blue hydrangeas. It handles clay soil, floods, and brutal heat.
- Height: 3 feet
- Sun: Full sun
3. Crinum ‘Mrs. James Hendry’ Best for: Deep fragrance, nighttime elegance, handsome compact leaves
Prized for its evening fragrance and bold presence. Its tall stalks support clusters of dramatic reddish-pink flowers.
- Height: 3-4 feet
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
4. Crinum ‘Pink Flamingo’ Best for: Mixes beautifully into perennial borders.
Chest high, strong stalks hold soft pink flags over a sea of blue salvia, or pink larkspur. Graceful habit with compact foliage that can live well with other perennials.
- Height: 4 plus feet
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
5. Crinum ‘Bradley’ Best for: Compact size, containers, and borders.
This dwarf Crinum hybrid is one of the best options for smaller spaces. ‘Bradley’ has rosy-pink blooms and a neat clumping habit. It’s excellent for growing in large containers on patios in the Southern heat or mixing with daylilies.
- Height: 2 feet
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
6. Crinum ‘Lady Chameleon’ Best for: Bold two-tone flowers, tropical look, lime soils, drought.
This bold Crinum is one of the toughest and quickest growers. Rosy-pink flowers open wide as a big straw hat. It’s excellent for adding lush, glossy leaves and tropical flair around a pool. It’s a total winner for Steve in Texas, but Jenks says, “It’s spectacular, but in South Carolina’s rain, its leaves get big, curly, and kind of out of control!”
- Height: 4 feet
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
Expert Tips for Growing Crinum Lilies in the South
- Planting Depth: Set bulbs with necks just above soil level.
- Soil Needs: Crinums love well-drained to loamy soil but tolerate clay.
- Sun Exposure: Most bloom best in full sun, but the shade of pine trees can help preserve soft pastel petals.
- Watering: Once established, Crinums are drought-tolerant but appreciate deep, infrequent watering. In the Deep South, rain is usually adequate, but in drier places like Texas, they need extra water.
- Spacing: It depends on the crinum! Some like ‘White Queen’ sprawl wide while others, like ‘Jubilee’ stay very compact. Know your cultivar!
Resources and Expert References
- Jenks Farmer – jenksfarmer.com | Crinum – Unearthing the History and Cultivation of the Worlds Biggest Bulbs
- Scott Ogden – Garden Bulbs for the South
- Southern Bulb Company is based in Texas– southernbulbs.com
Pre-order Jenks’ new book, Secrets of Southern Gardens, for more candid garden tips and hard truths about ecologically friendly landscapes in the South.