Crinum bulbispermum

Common Name: Orange River Lily

Scientific Name: Crinum bulbispermum​

Status: Least Concern

Quick ID: Large pink-and-white striped trumpet flowers on tall stems

Where to Find It: Wetlands, riverbanks, floodplains

When to See It: Spring.

Crinum bulbispermum

Common Name: Orange River Lily

Scientific Name: Crinum bulbispermum​

Status: Least Concern

Quick ID: Large pink-and-white striped trumpet flowers on tall stems

Where to Find It: Wetlands, riverbanks, floodplains

When to See It: Spring.

Crinum bulbispermum is a striking wetland plant known for its large, elegant flowers. Each stem carries multiple blooms that open in succession.

Crinum bulbispermum is a large indigenous wetland bulb associated with riverbanks, floodplains and seasonal pans across the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Its tall flower stalks carry multiple pink and white striped trumpet flowers that open one after another, extending the flowering display through spring. The bluish-grey leaves contrast beautifully with the flowers, while the species itself has a long history of medicinal and cultural use in both Zulu and Sotho traditions. Large populations can be seen flowering near wetlands and rivers after seasonal rains.

Look for tall flowering stems with large trumpet-shaped flowers and broad, wavy leaves.

Typically found along riverbanks, wetlands, and seasonal floodplains.

Flowers in spring.

Widely used in traditional medicine — bulbs should not be harvested or used without proper knowledge.

Listed as Least Concern on South Africa’s Red List.

A key species linking plant identification to water-based ecosystems.

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