Cardiocrinum cordatum
| Cardiocrinum cordatum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 6' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cardiocrinum cordatum
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in the autumn. The plant has delayed epigeal germination and will often germinate in the spring but can take up to 2 years especially if the seed is stored prior to being sown[1]. An alternative is to mix the seed with some moist leafmould and seal it in a plastic bag. Keep this at a temperature of 20°c for 3 weeks then pot up any seed that germinates and place the rest in a fridge for 4 - 5 weeks at 3 - 5°c before sowing in a warm place[2]. Seedlings should be grown on in pots in a shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse for 3 - 4 years before planting them out in their permanent positions[2].
Bulblets are obtained from the base of the old plant after flowering. Pot up and plant out when well established.
Cultivation: Prefers a moist well-drained position in shade and a soil that is rich in leafmould[3][4]. Requires a deep, very fertile humus-laden soil[5]. Prefers growing in woodland conditions[6][4].
The dormant plant is in general hardy to about -10°c but it comes into growth very early in the year, sometimes in February, and the young growth is susceptible to frost damage[7][4].
A monocarpic plant, the bulb takes about 7 years to reach flowering size but then dies after flowering. However, it produces a number of new bulblets at the base and can be propagated by these[3][4]. These bulblets take 3 - 5 years to flower[4].
The flowers are sweetly scented[8].
When planting, only just cover the bulb with leafmould[3]. The bulb is very attractive to slugs, mice and voles and may require protection[4].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5].
Range: E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat: Conifer, oak and bamboo woods in mountains in cool moist situations, especially in N. Japan[3][7].
Edibility: An edible starch is obtained from the bulb[9][10][11].
Young leaves - cooked. This use will considerably weaken the plant and is not to be recommended in normal situations[9][10].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Lilium cordatum. L. cordifolium.
Links
References
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Fox, Derek. Growing Lilies. Croom Helm, 1985.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Bulbs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.