Pancratium

Pancratium

A genus estimated at between 15-20 species (depending on your source), spread from the Canary Islands and Africa to the far East. Related to Hymenocallis but distinct in several ways. Pancratium are tender in all of the United Kingdom, with the probable exception of P. illyricum and there is the chance that P. maritimum will persist and vegetate if planted deeply in a very sandy soil in a south facing site.

In warmer areas they will do well in a sandy hot site which dries out in the summer. Their deeply searching roots will find enough water to keep them going whilst the bulbs sit warm and dry until autumn.

They bear very fragrant white flowers in the summer and autumn when their perfume will fill the air on a warm summer evening.



Ordering possible from Autumn and Spring lists.

Products

Pancratium tenuifolium Dwaalboom

Pancratium tenuifolium Dwaalboom

Although Pancratium is widespread in the Mediterranean region, the Canaries and Northern Africa, there is also a single species in Southern Africa, spread from South Africa to Namibia.

The flowers are large fragrant trumpets with rice-paper textured petals, borne on 35cm tall stems, often with the leaves. They scent the air around them in the evening. The trumpet colour is always white but the petal colour varies.

This new form has very decorative leaves which are spirally twisted and covered in a silvery pubescence which intensifies towards the leaf base, where it looks like velvet. This is so far known only from near Dwaalboom in Limpopo Province.

These are only for cool glasshouse cultivation in the UK. They are easily grown, in pots, in a well-drained, loam based compost but are not hardy anywhere in the British Isles.

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Pancratium tenuifolium Dwaalboompantendwaalboom £27.50
Large bulbs, on average 2.5cm wide and 2.5cm tall, comfortably flowering sized.
Pancratium tenuifolium Dwaalboom SpecimenspantendwaalboomSpecimen £36.50
Bulbs well in excess of flowering size at about 3.8cm across by 4cm tall.

Pancratium zeylanicum

Pancratium zeylanicum

(tiariflorum, uniflorum)

A dwarf, warm-growing species with short, glossy green leaves and large, graceful, slightly fragrant white flowers with yellow pollen in summer.

Native to India, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon - hence the Latin name) and some islands in the Indian Ocean, this is a warm-growing species for glasshouse cultivation only. Its small habit means that it is ideal for pot culture and whilst it does not usually have a rest period, it will go dormant if water is withheld. In the UK this can be over the winter and the bulbs can then be dry-stored in the house if wished.

When the weather warms up, the bulb can be potted, watered and within weeks it will be producing its glossy, dwarf foliage and starting to flower, amply justifying its common name of "Rain Flower". Culture should be in semi-shade, warmth is appreciated but it can be stood outside in summer. Grow in a well drained compost. Organic- or peat-based composts are fine and extra feeding will ensure better flowers and increase.

Increase is both by offsets and seed. Little seen but readily pleased and pleasantly free with its flowers.

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Pancratium zeylanicumpanzeyzey £5.50
Naturally a small species, bulbs are 2.5cm+ diameter and flowering sized
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