Hymenocallis occidentalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hymenocallis bidentata
- Hymenocallis caroliniana
- Hymenocallis moldenikiana
- Pancratium carolinianum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-men-oh-KAL-is ock-sih-den-TAH-liss
- Description
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Native to the southeastern US, this spider lily is a herbaceous perennial that is grown from a bulb. It is the most cold hardy plant of the spider lilies. This plant.t was once found wild in NC but is now found only in the lower Mississippi Basin, growing in moist fields, swamps and bottomlands. The name is derived from the Greek words hymen (membrane) and kallos which translates to beauty. These words allude to the membrane uniting the stamens.
The plant grows up to 2 feet tall and wide and prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Remove the foliage after it turns yellow tp aid in the appearance of the garden.
Resembling a daffodil with long, thin filaments, these showy, fragrant flowers sit at the top of the stems. Each bulb can multiply to form a dense clump.
It is sometimes used as a conservatory plant or as an interiorscape plant. It can be used in groups or the border of a water garden and along ponds. bogs or streams
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues; however, mealy bugs, snails and caterpillars can damage the plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hymenocallis
- Species:
- occidentalis
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern US native
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Poisonous to many animals.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a leathery capsule, each containing 1 to 3 fleshy seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers each have a central cup and 6 long, slender tepals. The 6 in. flowers have a white crown of thin tissue that connects the bases of the anthers and are borne in clusters of 5 to 10 at the top of the stalks.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The basal strap-like leaves that can be up to 2' long die back in mid-summer. They can reach a length of up to 17" long, growing directly from the bulb.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are erect and unbranched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
