Hymenocallis caroliniana
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Tried and True Recommended by 1 Professional
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: spider lily
Type: Bulb
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Native Range: Southeast United States
Garden Location: Martha Love Symington Missouri Native Shade Garden
Height: 1.5 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Tolerates: Wet Soil
Uses: Rain Garden, Water Plant

Culture

Best grown in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Soils must never be allowed to dry out. Plant bulbs 4” deep and space 6-10” apart in fall. May not be reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where they should be grown in protected locations. Foliage remains green well after bloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This species of spider lily is a Missouri native bulbous perennial which occurs in swamps and moist woods in the Mississippi lowlands area in the far southeastern corner of the State. It looks like a spidery daffodil with extremely narrow perianth (petal-like) segments. Features a basal clump of up to twelve (12) linear, strap-shaped, amaryllis-like leaves (each to 17” long) growing directly from a bulb. In summer, from the center of the foliage rises a solid scape to 22” which is topped by an umbel of 5-10 fragrant, white, spidery flowers (to 6” across). Each flower has six (6) extremely narrow, outward-spreading-to-reflexed perianth segments and a daffodil-like staminal center cup (corona). Flowers are followed by oval to spherical seed capsules. These plants are rare in the wild and should never be dug up for transplanting to a home garden. Synonymous with and sometimes sold as Hymenocallis occidentalis.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Snails, caterpillars and mealy bugs are occasional visitors.

Garden Uses

Best in moist open woodland gardens, bog gardens or along streams and ponds. May be grown in a border as long as the soil moisture requirements can be met.

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Hymenocallis latifolia
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