Pancracio or Azucena de mar, a very unique bulbous

If you live near the coast and you love bulbous, then you can not stop having the pancreatic. It produces quite large and very pretty white flowers, which you can even cut and keep in a vase for several days without spoiling.

The cultivation is not complicated, although it is that it is convenient to take into account a number of things if you are about to buy some bulbs.

Origin and characteristics of the pankration

Our protagonist is a perennial bulbous herbaceous plant native to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. It receives many common names which are: pankration, sea lily, sea lily, king's crown, maritime king's crown, sea narcissus, marine narcissus, tuberose, crowned tuberose, marine tuberose, sea lily. Its scientific name is chicory coast. Reaches a height of 50-60 centimeters, and is formed by linear erect bluish-green leaves that sprout from an elongated, whitish bulb that is toxic if ingested. The roots are very long, up to 80cm.

The flowers are large, 15cm, with white petals and very aromatic. They appear during the summer (from June to September in the northern hemisphere), when most plants have stopped blooming.

How do you take care of yourself?

The pankration is a bulbous suitable for beginners. But to make it even easier to enjoy its beauty, we recommend giving it the following care:

Location

It is important that be placed outside, in full sun. It cannot be adapted to living in semi-shade.

Soil or substrate

• Garden: it must have a soil with excellent drainage. It grows well in the sandy ones.
• Flower pot: it is advisable to use vermiculite, perlite or similar to allow the correct oxygenation of the roots.

Irrigation

Watering has to be frequent, especially during the summer. In the hottest season we will water 5-6 times a week, and the rest of the year every 3 days or so. In the case of having it in a pot with a plate underneath, we will remove the excess water ten minutes after watering to prevent its roots from rotting.

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Especially during the flowering season We must pay it using a specific liquid fertilizer for bulbous plants following the indications specified on the product packaging.

Multiplication

Seeds

If we want to multiply the pankration by seeds, we have to do the following:

1. In spring, we fill a 10,5cm diameter pot with universal growing medium mixed with equal parts perlite.
2. Afterwards, we place no more than three seeds on the surface, separated from each other.
3. Next, we cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
4. Then we water.
5. Finally, we place the pot outside, in full sun.

Keeping the substrate always slightly damp will germinate in 15-30 days.

Bulbs

If we want to multiply it by bulbs, we will follow this step by step:

1. The first thing we will do is acquire them in the fall.
2. Once we have them, we will plant them in the ground or in the garden at a depth of 10-15 centimeters.
3. Afterwards, we cover them with soil or substrate.
4. Finally, we water.

In spring we will see that the leaves sprout and, in summer, the flowers.

Plagues and diseases

The pankration is a very resistant bulbous that does not usually have problems. Now, it is important to know that Its leaves are the favorite food of the caterpillar of the Brithys crini, which is a black night butterfly. In its adult phase it is not very showy, but in its larval phase it is black with white spots and an orange head.

To avoid it and / or treat the affected plants, we can use insecticides that contain Triflumuron. The yellow color traps placed near our specimens could also be of use to us. The yellow will attract insects that, once they come into contact with the trap, will stick.

Rusticity

Pankration can be grown outdoors in a wide variety of climates, from tropical to mild temperate. Withstands frosts down to -7 degrees Celsius without problems (It can lose its leaves if they register) and high temperatures of 35-40ºC do not affect it at all.

 For what do you use it?

Ornamental

Its most widespread (and harmless 😉) use is ornamental. Its large, scented flowers brighten up the summer when the rest of the plants are already expending energy in the production and ripening of the fruits. In addition, it looks great both in pot and in the garden, without forgetting that it can be used as a cut flower.

Medicinal

The bulbs contain ungeremin, which is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, so can be a good treatment for Alzheimer's disease always under medical advice. High doses could be fatal to health.

Did you know the pankration plant? You may have seen it once if you've been to the beach or strolling along the coast. I hope you found what we have told you about her interesting 🙂.