pancratium maritimum Sea Daffodil PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Taxonomic Note: This genus was formerly classified in the family Alliaceae. Modern classifications include it within the Amaryllidaceae.

Physical Characteristics

pancratium maritimum is an evergreen Bulb growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Seed
Edible Uses:

Bulb - cooked[2, 105]. This report is somewhat dubious since there are reports that the bulb is poisonous. Seed[89]. No further details are given.

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Fibre

The woolly hairs on the inside of the seed coat (should this say the seed case?) are used to weave felt shoes and other garments[89, 148].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a light very well drained sandy soil in a very sunny position[42]. Requires a warm sheltered position when grown outdoors in Britain[200]. Requires a hot dry summer in order to fully ripen its bulb, it is more easily grown in a bulb frame in Britain[200]. Tolerates temperatures down to about -5°c[200], it is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, requiring protection even there in the winter[1]. The bulb should be planted deeply and rapid spring growth should be encouraged[1]. Another report says that plants are easily grown outdoors in Britain but that the leaves are susceptible to frost damage and the plant does not flower well in an average British summer[90]. The flowers have an exotic lily scent[245].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[200]. Pre-soak stored seed for 1 hour in warm water and then sow in spring in a warm greenhouse in a light sandy soil[1]. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 22°c. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first two years of growth. Give them an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants become dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs placing 2 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in the greenhouse before planting them out when they are dormant in late summer. Division of offsets when the plant dies down in late summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Pancratium maritimum	Sea Daffodil	Bulb	0.5	7-10		L	N	DM	1	0	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Botanical References

45200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


	Thu Dec 30 07:27:34 2004

This plant is found in Malta/Mediterranean basin/Europe

More comprehensive details, medicinal properties, uses, botanical data, plant description and photogallery of high resolutions photos of this plant can be seen on an interesting website about the wild plants of Malta: www.maltawildplants.com

Link: Malta Wild Plants Website and photography by Stephen Mifsud, Malta.


Marios Harakis	Thu Feb 9 2006

I found this plant in Cyprus grwing near the sea.


Thomas Gerlach	Thu Mar 30 2006

Very good page with a lot of useful informations! You can find many Pancratium m. also in Andalusia, Atlantic coast, in the dunes.


	Tue Sep 25 2007

Found this flowering in September on a beach near Volissos,Chios, Greece.


Antti S.	Fri Aug 14 2009

Abundant amount of them grow in Crete just on the sand seashore. We have just returned from there and have seen many of them blooming in places where perfprmed artificial irrigation. Amazing plant, charming fragrance. Flowers open at night. It's pity that b ec ause of the ground erosion many bulbs vere lying opened, we tried to plant them again in sutable places. :)

pancratium maritimum - L.