Crinum × powellii

Raised as a garden hybrid between the South African species Crinum bulbispermum and Crinum moorei, this bulbous perennial herb forms clumps of long, bright green, strap-shaped leaves. Stout flower stalks rise to about five feet and carry clusters of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. The blooms are usually light pink, with six spreading segments and curved stamens; white-flowered forms are also cultivated. In temperate gardens, flowering begins in late summer and can continue into fall. Mature bulbs produce offsets that gradually enlarge the clump and can be separated for propagation. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.