ALBUCA (Hyacinthaceae)

     shawii ~ Yellow, snowdrop-like flowers (on 2-foot stems) in mid-summer and liquorice-scented foliage make this an ideal candidate for containers or warmer gardens. Native to South African mountains, it is winter-dormant and relatively cold-hardy. Subtropical/montane. Zone 8.

   
X AMARCRINUM (Amaryllidaceae)

     memoria-corsii ~ "A plant of great beauty and warm coloring," says Graham Stuart Thomas of this late-summer-blooming hybrid between Amaryllis belladonna and Crinum moorei . What he doesn't mention is that the rose-pink, funnel-shaped, 4-inch-long flowers -- borne in clusters on 2-foot stems -- are sweetly fragrant, adding to its already high value as a garden or pot plant. Subtropical; southern Africa. Zone 8. 20+cm bulbs.

     memoria-corsii 'Dorothy Hannibal' ~ Rarely available in the trade, this "paler, more graceful" clone (Howard) comes from the breeding program of the late Les Hannibal. Subtropical; southern Africa. Zone 8.

     
AMORPHOPHALLUS (Araceae)
Devil's tongue

     bulbifer ~ A pleasingly bizarre aroid, in early summer sending forth a wrist-thick, 3-foot-tall, cryptically mottled, faux-anaconda petiole, culminating in a single large (up to 4-foot-wide), deep-lobed, cormlet-bearing leaf. The 10-inch-long, pink-hooded, roadkill-scented inflorescence appears on its own reptilian "stem" in spring, but only from well-established corms. For the downwind, partly shaded pot or garden. Tropical; NE India to Burma. Zone 8.

   
ARISAEMA (Araceae)

     candidissimum ~ Queen of the jack-in-the-pulpits, with violet-scented, white-striped, wedgwood-white and apple-green spathes, flushed pink inside, borne on 8-inch "stems." The flowers and the large, tripartite leaves break ground very late, in June or July. The green spadix bears orange fruits in late summer. Like most arisaemas, it prefers leafy soil and partial shade, although it is reputed to tolerate more sun and drought than most others of its tribe. Montane/subtropical; C China. Zone 5. AGM

     costatum ~ Whip-tailed, pinkish-green spadices dangle from helmeted, deep maroon, pinstriped, 5-inch long spathes in late spring, the whole overtopped by a parasol of large, rounded, beautifully veined leaves. Montane; C, E Nepal. Zone 6/7.

     flavum tall form ~ Its bright-yellow spathes on 2-foot "stems" in June set this gorgeous Himalayan native apart from the common run of jack-in-the-pulpits. Paired, peony-like leaves and orange late-summer fruits complete the picture. Montane/subtropical; W China. Zone 6.

     intermedium ~ Another whip-tongued Arisaema , its white, 18-inch long spadix appendix dangling sinuously from a pale yellowish-green spathe, which itself terminates in a spiky "tail". The flowers appear in late spring. Rarely available. Montane; Himalayan foothills. Zone 6.

     tortuosum ~ A striking plant, with dragon-tongued, upswept, purple spadices emerging from green, cobra-hooded spathes, the whole poised on stately, 5-foot "stems" in late spring. Montane/subtropical; W Himalaya. Zone 7.

   
BESSERA (Alliaceae)

     elegans ~ Elegant indeed, with open umbels of a dozen or more dangling, scarlet bell-flowers -- their 1-1/2-inch segments pencilled with white -- poised like parasols on 2- to 3-foot scapes in mid to late summer. Spectacular in the sunny border or in a pot, stored dry for the winter, and remarkably hardy given a warm, sunny niche. Subtropical/tropical; Mexico. Zone 7. 5+cm corms.

   
BLETILLA (Orchidaceae)

     striata ~ It's one of the great marvels of horticulture that this lovely orchid, with its showy sprays of raspberry-pink flowers on 1- to 2-foot wands in spring and early summer, should be so tough and hardy, performing well in semi-shade throughout much of the U.S (especially if provided constant summer moisture and a winter mulch). It also makes a splendid plant for the cool greenhouse. Modified continental/subtropical; E Asia. Zone 5.

     fragrans ~ No fragrance garden (or cool greenhouse) should be without this Peruvian native, whose spicily perfumed, golden yellow, 3-inch flowers -- like miniature day-lilies -- appear in summer on 10-inch stems. Given a deep, loose winter mulch, it can prove surprisingly hardy (we plan to try it outside here). Montane/subtropical; N Andes. Zone 7. 10+cm bulbs.

   
CRINUM (Amaryllidaceae)

     erubescens (C. americanum 'Robustum') ~ "Well worth having for its sweet-scented blossoms" (Ogden), this moisture-lover displays clusters of white, narrow-petaled, spidery flowers on 2-foot scapes from midsummer into fall. Vigorously stoloniferous, it needs either room to romp or a container. Tropical; C & S America. Zone 9. Large, near-blooming-size bulbs.

     x powellii ~ Quite common in southern gardens, this noble hybrid -- whose 3-foot scapes bear an abundance of fragrant, rose-pink, 4-inch funnels over much of summer -- is all too rarely seen in the northern fringe of its broad hardiness zone (or, for that matter, in the cool greenhouse). It a lso tolerates some shade. A classic. Subtropical; SE Africa. Zone 6. 20+cm bulbs. AGM

     x powellii 'Album' ~ The pure white form, "an exquisite flower of good quality and shape" (G. S. Thomas). Zone 6. 20-24cm bulbs.

     'Bradley' ~ One of the oldest and best of the red crinums, this Australian hybrid bears an abundance of fragrant, rosy trumpet-flowers on 2-foot stems above lax, narrow basal leaves. Subtropical; Zone 8. 1-yr. offsets.

     'Maiden's Blush' ~ Lush foliage, shade tolerance, and a prolific midsummer to fall display of fragrant, pink-blushed blooms: how much more could one ask of a Crinum? Yet, this Thad Howard hybrid of C . moorei and C . zeylanicum rarely appears in the trade. An "outstanding choice for edging a bed in semishade" (Ogden), it also performs beautifully in sunny, not-too-dry sites. Subtropical; E Africa. Zone 8. 1-yr. offsets.

     'Mrs. James Hendry' ~ "This exquisite flower ranks as one of the most beautiful and rewarding of Southern perennials" (Ogden). Spicily scented, white, pink-brushed trumpets appear in one-sided umbels through late summer and fall above compact, lush-green leaves. If that weren't enough, it tolerates partial shade and dry conditions. Indispensable. Subtropical. Zone 7. Large, near-blooming-size bulbs.

     'Mystery' ~ Cecil Houdyshel's circa-1940 hybrid of the redoubtable 'Ellen Bosanquet', whose summer flowers combine Ellen's wine-red color with the narrow-"petaled", starry form of C. erubescens . The foliage is lush and compact. It needs ample water to flower well. Subtropical Zone 7. Large, near-blooming-size bulbs.

     'Rose Parade' ~ We are excited to be among the first to offer what is destined to become the new standard among red crinums.  Considerably surpassing 'Ellen Bosanquet' in the abundance, presentation, length of season, and intensity of hue of its glowing burgundy flowers, as well as in the breadth and lushness of its leaves, this 1997 introduction is worth every penny of its admittedly hefty price. Subtropical. Zone 7. 1-yr. offsets.

     'Stars and Stripes' ~ Wide-flaring white petals, their centers striped candy-cane red, appear in abundance from late summer through fall on 20-inch stems. The leaves of this C . scabrum by C. erubescens hybrid are narrow and pleated. Very showy. Subtropical/tropical. Zone 8. Large, near-blooming-size bulbs.

     'Summer Nocturne' ~ Thad Howard's ravishing and rarely available hybrid of C. moorei and C . erubescens , bearing fragrant, blush-pink trumpets from summer until frost on 3-foot scapes. The bright green, succulent foliage is also highly attractive. It likes it moist. Subtropical. Zone 8. Large, near-blooming-size bulbs.

     'Walter Flory' ~ With 'Ellen Bosanquet' and C. x powellii 'Album' as parents, it's not surprising that this Katherine Clint hybrid -- "whose exquisite pink blossoms are accented by burgundy stripes and green petal tips" (Ogden) -- is one of the most stunning crinums. The flowers appear on stately, 40-inch scapes from early to midsummer above lusty clumps of bold, glossy leaves. Subtropical. Zone 7. Large, near-blooming-size bulbs.

     West Indies mini ~ An adorable, diminuitive form from the C. americanum complex, whose fragrant, white, starry flowers tower on 6-inch stems above grassy leaves from midsummer onwards. A rapid and surprisingly hardy spreader which relishes moisture, it works well as a liriope-like groundcover or as a waterside or container plant. Tropical; W Indies. Zone 7. Flowering-size bulbs.