Pancratium

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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.

Pancratium illyricum

The familiar P. maritimum is widely spread around the sandy sea-shores of the Mediterranean from Portugal to as far east as Turkey.

The vastly rarer Pancratium illyricum is found only in Corsica and Sardinia. It is usually a mountain plant growing in sparse rocky woods, flowering in early summer and then dying back and spending its summer below ground.

It makes decorative, broad, blue-green leaves. These are borne with the blooms. Stems 60cm tall carry large, pure white and very highly fragrant flowers. These are large white trumpets surrounded by narrow petals in classic Pancratium fashion. They are very substantial and lovely. Larger bulbs carry up to 12 flowers per scape and can bear 3 scapes.

The hardiest Pancratium (to US zone 7-8) and found at over 4,000 ft in some of its wild localities. It takes well to cultivation especially in a sheltered position or at the base of a south facing wall.

This stock is raised from a single bulb acquired in 1991 which started to propagate in 2000! They do not develop offsets or side bulbs easily, the books only say "propagate by division" which is one way to put it!


Pancratium illyricumpanillill	£38.50
After 22 years - a further limited number of propagated bulbs, about 3cm diameter but up to 6cm long. Probably a year from their first flowering. Large view

Pancratium maritimum

The lovely "sea daffodil" is a denizen of Mediterranean shores where its deeply seated bulbs produce clusters of attractive blue-grey, daffodil-like leaves which die away in the summer, to be succeeded by large, crystalline, heavy-textured white flowers which have a tremendous perfume. The scent of this drifting on a gentle breeze, in the evening cool following a bake in the sun is one of life’s joys.

Does well here, planted in deep sand at the base of a south-facing wall.


Pancratium maritimumpanmarmar	£5.00

Pancratium parviflorum

(Vagaria parviflora)

This is a lovely dwarf species known only from a few sites in Syria and Israel. Small black-skinned bulbs make growths only 20-25cm tall with glaucous narrow, short foliage. This dies back in summer but the plant re-emerges with the advent of autumn rains to make gorgeous white blooms which would, in the wild, emerge from bare sandy soils.

Ours is a good form with highly fragrant white flowers the petals of which have a lovely thick, waxen texture, subtly yet noticeably infused with green.

Fertile, well-drained soil, Good feeding will build larger bulbs (though it is a miniature species with naturally small bulbs). It is best kept from deep cold, though it will bear a light touch of frost on the leaves as long as it does not freeze through.


Pancratium parviflorumpanparpar	£21.50
Flowering-sized bulbs ('large' in this species is naturally smaller than, for example, P.maritimum) Large view

Pancratium sickenbergeri

A desert species from the S.E. Mediterranean. It was first found in Egypt, near Cairo in 1882 and described in 1901.

As an adaptation to its arid environment, this has evolved wonderfully decorative, incredibly spiralled foliage that sits in curly cones on the soil surface. The foliage is made in spring but dies away totally as temperatures go up.

This is an autumnal species and in October it makes up to 6, 10cm long flowers from each bulb. These are superbly perfumed, in the evening. The white petals have an attractive, emerald green band along their length.

In cultivation, it is early days, but the plants do well when treated in the same way that we use for many of our S. African arid land bulbs such as Brunsvigia, grown in a very VERY well-drained compost with little in the way of humus matter. They are given little water but are fed at every opportunity watering offers to build size


Pancratium sickenbergeripansicsic	£22.50
Large mature, flowering-sized bulbs. Naturally smaller than maritimum however) Large view