Is the Poison Bulb (Crinum asiaticum) Toxic? Is It Rare and Valuable, and When Does It Bloom?

Crinum asiaticum, also known as Wenzhulan, Haidaiqi, water banana, Eighteen Scholars, Cuidihua, and so on, is a common perennial herbaceous flower of the Amaryllidaceae family, widely cultivated because its flowers have high ornamental value. So is Crinum asiaticum a rare and precious flower? Are its flowers toxic? When does it bloom? How do you grow it so that it blooms?

Crinum asiaticum is not a rare and precious flower; its name may make people mistake this species for an orchid, but in fact this species is a perennial robust herbaceous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family. Its whole plant is toxic, with the bulb being the most toxic, so it should be used with caution internally. Symptoms of poisoning are abdominal pain, first constipation, then severe diarrhea, increased pulse rate, irregular breathing, and rising body temperature. For early poisoning rescue, gastric lavage can be performed, strong tea can be drunk, and 4 liang of white rice vinegar with 2 liang of ginger juice can also be used; mild cases should hold it in the mouth, while severe cases should take it internally. Therefore, when used as medicine, doctor's orders must be strictly followed, and children and animals must be strictly prevented from eating it by mistake. Crinum asiaticum is a toxic plant, and when growing it, you must be especially careful of children around you. As for whether the floral fragrance of Crinum asiaticum is toxic, there is currently no report of poisoning from smelling the fragrance, so the fragrance should be non-toxic.

Bloom time:

The flowering period of Crinum asiaticum is around June to August, and it gives off fragrance in the evening. The perianth lobes are white and linear, the stamens are pale red, and the anthers are linear. It generally blooms after about two to three years of cultivation. However, some people may find that it does not bloom or blooms slowly because of certain technique problems when growing it; this mainly depends on the individual's growing methods.

Flowering cultivation techniques:

1. Soil: Crinum asiaticum has no strict requirements for soil and is tolerant of saline-alkali soil; it grows better in soil rich in humus, loose and fertile, and well-drained.

2. Watering: During the growing season, Crinum asiaticum needs sufficient water, and the soil should often be kept moist, but it must not be waterlogged; watering should be reduced after autumn.

3. Sunlight: To keep the leaves green, beautiful, and neat without affecting light exposure, Crinum asiaticum should be properly shaded during the intense heat of midsummer.

4. Temperature: Crinum asiaticum likes warmth and is not cold-tolerant; the suitable growing temperature is 15-20°C, and in winter it needs to overwinter indoors at no less than 5°C.

5. Fertilizing: Crinum asiaticum likes fertilizer; apply additional manure 2-3 times each month, and add phosphorus fertilizer 2 more times before and after flowering, which helps it bloom more and last longer.

6. Pruning: After flowering, if seeds are not being kept, the flower stalk should be cut off, and old yellow leaves should also be removed at the same time.