Hymenocallis occidentalis var. occidentalis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hymenocallis bidentata
- Hymenocallis caroliniana
- Hymenocallis moldenkiana
- Pancratium carolinianum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-men-oh-KAL-is ok-sih-den-TAY-liss ok-sih-den-TAY-liss
- Description
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Woodland Spiderlily is a native perennial bulb found in mesic soil along slopes, swamps, moist fields and floodplain forests. It is the hardiest of the genus. The large, showy, fragrant flowers last only a day but bloom time is July through August.
It can be grown in average, medium to wet garden soil but must not be allowed to dry out. Best naturalized in moist sites as water gardens, ponds or boggy areas.
NC Special Concern/Historical. This variety was once native to North Carolina but has been extirpated. It has not been seen in the wild in NC in recent decades.
- 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:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE and central. U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- 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
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a leathery green capsule with 1-3 green, fleshy seeds from July to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant white spider-like flowers up to 7 inches across bloom in clusters from July to August. The center daffodil-like cup has 6 narrow rays that arch outward from it.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 5-12 shiny pale green, often glaucous, strap-shaped leaves up to 2 ft long in a basal clump. Arise directly from the bulb. Margins are entire, base tapering, apex subacute to acute. Leaves emerge late winter and may or may not be present when flowering occurs
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Description:
- 18-22 inch naked 2-edged flowering stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
