Photo: no rights reservedCC0 1.0via iNaturalist
MacOwan's Crinum Lily Plant Care
Crinum macowanii Baker
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
With its long, strap-like leaves that curl at the edges, this plant originates from South Africa. Plant collectors are drawn to Crinum macowanii for its unique foliage that adds a touch of exotic flair to any garden or collection.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
Water MacOwan's Crinum Lily every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the MacOwan's Crinum Lily Native To?
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
MacOwan's Crinum Lily (Crinum macowanii) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Crinum genus. MacOwan's Crinum Lily is native to Africa that has been used in traditional medicine throughout southern Africa.
MacOwan's Crinum Lily displays a tall, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. MacOwan's Crinum Lily produces fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, or red.
Leaf size: approximately 18 inches.
How Often Should You Water a MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
Crinum macowanii requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the MacOwan's Crinum Lily Need?
MacOwan's Crinum Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the MacOwan's Crinum Lily Prefer?
Crinum macowanii grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. MacOwan's Crinum Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
Rich, well-draining soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for MacOwan's Crinum Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
Feed MacOwan's Crinum Lily every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
MacOwan's Crinum Lily can be propagated through offsets, division of bulbs. Similar propagation techniques also apply to swamp lily plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the MacOwan's Crinum Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the MacOwan's Crinum Lily?
MacOwan's Crinum Lily is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, thrips. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the MacOwan's Crinum Lily Need?
MacOwan's Crinum Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. MacOwan's Crinum Lily is native to Africa that has been used in traditional medicine throughout southern Africa. In cooler regions, grow MacOwan's Crinum Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a – 11b
Keep exploring plants
MacOwan's Crinum Lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Crinum genus — compare its care with other Crinum species on PlantoScan.
Crinum is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
MacOwan's Crinum Lily thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Crinum Species
Other Crinum species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Crinum macowanii Baker, family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Gard. Chron. , n.s., 9: 298 (1878)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: MacOwan's Crinum Lily is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Public domain, CC0 1.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a – 11b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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