Summer Flowering Bulbs
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There are flowering bulbs for every season, and summer shows some of the best. (When I say “bulb” I mean bulb, corm, tuber, or modified root).
Perhaps the most commonly seen summer bulb is the daylily. It boggles the mind that there are tens of thousands of named varieties of daylilies to choose from. The good news is that there is sure to be one that fits your preference. The other good news is that there are several local daylily farms you can visit and choose from hundreds of different selections in bloom.
What’s a Crinum? It’s a fabulous summer blooming type of lily. There are heirloom crinums throughout the southeast that have long outlasted the old estates where they were planted, and the gardeners who planted them. Crinums are not as commonly seen as daylilies and daffodils. It’s not that non-estate gardeners disliked crinums, but that they couldn’t easily afford them. This has changed - somewhat.
Crinum lilies typically have large, long, wide strap-like leaves, like a daffodil on steroids or like enormous amaryllis leaves. Flower stalks arise from the leaves to display lily flowers at the top. The bulbs of flowering-size crinums can be unbelievably huge, about the size of cantaloupes, so you get a lot of bulb for what you pay for. You can buy smaller bulbs, but you will have to grow them several years before they reach a large enough size to bloom.
Although there are not nearly as many crinums as daylilies to choose from, there’s enough variety to keep a person busy. One of my favorites is Crinum ‘Sangria’, which has burgundy leaves and wine-colored flowers that emit a pleasant fruity fragrance. One I have coveted for years and only recently acquired is called ‘Super Ellen’, and there are oh so many more worth growing.
If you desire more diminutive summer bulbs than crinums, consider the rain lilies. Their bulbs are about the size of a crocus bulb, and their leaves are somewhat similar too. As the name implies, rain lilies tend to bloom most strongly following a summer rain. Don’t let the genus names Zephyranthes and Habranthus intimidate you. Rain lilies like ‘Lily Pies’, ‘Pink Panther’ and ‘Citrina’ are easy and rewarding to grow.
Finally, let me mention Firecracker Vine (Manettia inflata). I include it with summer bulbs because it has swollen roots similar to daylilies, and because it is a spectacular dazzler when in bloom, which is from July 4th to frost. Besides being a showstopper, firecracker vine stays in bounds – a rare thing among flowering vines.
Michael Papay is a Master Gardener Volunteer for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.