Crinum calamistratum (Crinum calamistratum) care guide

Group

Plants

Other names

Curly onion plant

Family

Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis family)

Origin

Cameroon, West Africa, where it is known from a single seasonal river

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

120 cm

Temperature

22–28°C

pH

6–8

Care level

beginner

Lighting

Low light is enough (medium to high light gives better growth); CO2 not needed

Care

Crinum calamistratum is a bulb plant from Cameroon, first collected in 1948 and described in 1987. In the wild it is known only from local populations in a seasonal river. It forms a thick onion-like bulb with narrow, dark green, strongly crinkled leaves and can produce showy white flowers. Plant the bulb in the background or at the side, leaving the top of the bulb above the substrate. Leaves usually grow 40–120 cm long (Wikipedia says they can pass 2 m), so they trail along the surface in most tanks. It makes smaller bulbs than other Crinum species. Tropica rates it easy and slow-growing, with low light and CO2 needs, but it grows faster with more light and a rich substrate. It tolerates a wide range of water and even slightly brackish water. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinumcalamistratum); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Healthy plants form a cluster of small daughter bulbs beside the mother bulb; separate and replant them. It rarely sets seed in cultivation.

Compatibility and tank mates

Its tough leaves are left alone by herbivorous fish, so it suits tanks with plant-eating fish, including many cichlids, and low-salinity brackish tanks. Large diggers may disturb young bulbs.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.