Sand Lily Leucocrinum montanum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sand Lily:
- Phonetic Spelling
- loo-koh-KRY-num mon-TAY-num
- Description
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The Star Lily is drought-tolerant, flowering, herbaceous perennial in the asparagus family. It is an early spring wildflower common to the desert and sandy or rocky areas of the western United States. It is a relatively small plant, maturing to 4 inches high, with white, star-shaped flowers, that bloom close to the ground among the grass-like leaves in May and June.
The Star Lily does best in moist, sandy, alkaline soils with good drainage and sited in full sun. This plant is a geophyte and dies back to the roots during the hot desert summer, but regenerates when conditions are more favorable.
The plant is noted in the scientific community because of an unusual difference among populations of the plant in the way pollen is distributed. Plant populations in the Rocky Mountains and Nevada shed their pollen individually, while populations in western Nevada and the West Coast shed their pollen in groups of four.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- 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:
- Leucocrinum
- Species:
- montanum
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern New Mexico and western United States
- Distribution:
- West coast of the United States, east to Nebraska and the Dakotas.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Seed capsules develop underground.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant white blossoms appear in May and June. The flowers are stemless, close to the ground, and grow from a stalk that extends underground.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Stemless tufts of narrow grass-like leaves 4 to 8 inches long. The edges of the leaves are slightly white and the base is enclosed in a sheath.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
