Crinum Calamistratum (Crinum calamistratum) Care Guide
A bulb plant with long narrow dark-green leaves that have distinctively tight curly edges, creating an unusual wavy texture.
Overview
Crinum calamistratum is an aquatic plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. A bulb plant with long narrow dark-green leaves that have distinctively tight curly edges, creating an unusual wavy texture. Grows very slowly but is extremely hardy once established, tolerating a wide range of conditions and even surviving in brackish water.
Taxonomy
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Genus: Crinum
- Scientific name: Crinum calamistratum
- Other names: African Onion Plant, Curly Crinum
Habitat
Native to Cameroon (first collected near Kumba in 1948, formally described in 1987). Family Amaryllidaceae. Develops a large onion-like bulb and long curly, ribbon-like leaves; tolerates a range of water conditions, including light brackish water.
Growth requirements
- Light: medium (≈50-80 PAR at substrate)
- CO2: optional (CO2 improves growth and coloration)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 3-12 °dGH
- Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil or fertilised gravel
- Nutrient demand: low
- Growth rate: slow
- Difficulty: intermediate
Placement
- Recommended placement: background
- Maximum height: 60 cm
Propagation
In cultivation the plant is propagated by vegetative division or fragmentation.