Amaryllidaceae

Crinum asiaticum

Spider Lily, Giant Crinum Lily, Poison Bulb

Herb, Tuber, Succulent

Common species

Size

Quantity

Not currently in stock. We can propagate or source this species — add to your order and we'll confirm timeline and availability.

Ask on WhatsApp·Email us

About

This bulb-forming perennial herb grows up to 2 metres tall, featuring a basal rosette of long, strap-shaped, dark green leaves up to 1 metre in length. It produces large, showy, fragrant white, spider-like flowers, often with reddish or purplish tints, held in umbels atop sturdy leafless stalks. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, particularly the bulb.

Where it works in Kilifi

Ideal for coastal Kilifi gardens, this plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers rich, well-drained, moist soil, though it tolerates poor drainage. Its impressive size and showy flowers make it an excellent specimen plant or a striking addition to borders, especially near water features.

Growing notes

Once established, Crinum asiaticum is drought-tolerant but performs best with regular moisture, especially during the growing season; avoid waterlogging. It spreads readily from offsets to form colonies and is frost-sensitive, thriving in warm climates. Exercise caution as all parts, particularly the bulb, are poisonous if ingested.

Sources

Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, missouribotanicalgarden.org, wikipedia.org, bldeapharmacy.ac.in, pfaf.org, epicgardening.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.