Amarcrinum

   DESCRIPTION: Amarcrinums are inter-generic hybrids between Amaryllis belladonna and Crinum moorei. A. howardu (called Crinodonna corsii in Italy), has beautiful, fragrant pink flowers borne in clusters atop 3-ft. stems in autumn. 'Delkin's Find' is similar in all respects, except that it is smaller and bears more perfectly formed flowers. 'Dorothy Hannibal,' also pink-flowered, may bloom at any season.

   CULTURE: Same as Crinum.

   Clivia

   DESCRIPTION: C. miniata, 1 to 2 ft., from Natal, is a tender, evergreen, bulbous plant with thick, fleshy roots. It is noted for clusters of yellow to scarlet, trumpet-shaped blossoms. Unlike hippeastrum (common amaryllis), clivias should never be dried off completely. Throughout the year they need to be watered enough to keep the large strap-shaped leaves in good condition. During semi-dormancy in late fall, the bulbs may be given less water, but never so little that the leaves wilt.

   CULTURE: Light, semi-sunny to semi-shady. Temperature, cool to average house. Humidity, 30% or more. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss. Propagate by division, but remember that better flowering will result if clivias are left undivided as long as possible. When a clump begins to increase in size, shift it to a larger pot without disturbing the roots. Divide only when the plant becomes so large that it can no longer be accommodated conveniently.

   Crinum

   DESCRIPTION: C. kirkii, 2 to 4 ft., from Zanzibar, has white blossoms with a red center stripe, in summer. C. moorei, 2 ft., from South Africa, has large pink to rosy-red flowers in late summer or fall. 'Ellen Bosanquet,' 2 to 4 ft., a well-known hybrid crinum has deep wine-red blossoms in September. C. powellii alba, 3 ft., is a choice variety with pure white flowers.

   Crinums are evergreen plants arising from very large bulbs which need to be potted half in and half out of rich soil. Although inclined to grow too large for use in a window garden, crinums can be grown in tubs which are held in semi-dormancy in a cool place during the winter, then brought into full growth outdoors at the beginning of warm weather.

   CULTURE: Light, sunny to semi-sunny. Temperature, average house, except that coolness (50-65 °F.) is preferable in winter. Humidity, average house. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss; water copiously and provide liquid plant food in the summer, but keep on the dry side and withhold fertilizer through fall and winter. Propagate by removing offsets at repotting time, which is necessary every three or four years.