Northern Spider Lily Hymenocallis occidentalis
Other 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
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- 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. The name is derived from the Greek words hymen (membrane) and kallos that translates to beauty. These words allude to the membrane uniting the stamens.
Resembling a daffodil with long, thin filaments, these showy, fragrant flowers sit at the top of the stems. They can be found growing in moist fields, swamps and bottomlands.
Each bulb can multiply to form a dense clump.
A low maintenance plant, removing the foliage after it turns yellow will aid in the appearance of the garden.
It is sometimes used as a houseplant or interiorscape, but in its natural habitat it can be found in forest or natural area in marshes, shallow streams, and ditches. This plant was once found wild in NC but is now found only in the lower Mississippi Basin.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues, however mealy bugs, snails and caterpillars can damage the plant. It can be poisonous to many animals.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. occidentalis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. occidentalis
- 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
- Poisonous
- 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 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:
- Houseplants
- 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:
- Poisonous to Humans
