Spider lily (Hymenocallis liriosme) is a bulbous perennial from the amaryllis family native to the wetlands of Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Grown primarily for its showy, sweetly fragrant white flowers that bloom in summer atop leafless scapes, it rises to 24-30 inches tall with elegant, arching strap-shaped leaves. Hardy in zones 8-10, this plant thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and even tolerates standing water and seasonal flooding, making it exceptional for rain gardens and water features. The delicate, wide-spreading flowers appear from July through August, drawing attention with their distinctive spidery form and intoxicating fragrance.
Partial Sun
Moderate
8-10
30in H x 18in W
—
High
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Spider lily earns its common name from flowers with extremely narrow, spidery petals that spread wide and open in summer clusters. What truly sets this plant apart is its dual nature: it grows beautifully in typical moist garden soils but can also thrive in up to 2 inches of standing water, making it one of the finest choices for rain gardens, pond margins, and boggy spots where most ornamentals fail. The sweetly fragrant blooms reward you from mid-summer through August, and the long, arching green foliage remains attractive after flowering ends.
Spider lily serves as an ornamental bulb for gardens that feature water elements, rain gardens, and moisture-rich borders. Its tolerance for wet soil and standing water makes it an excellent choice for naturalizing in pond margins, swamp gardens, and areas prone to seasonal flooding. The fragrant summer flowers also work well in cut flower arrangements, and the plant can be grown in containers sunk into garden beds or placed in water gardens.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant bulbs outdoors in early spring with the bulb tip positioned 1-3 inches below the soil surface. Space bulbs 12-24 inches apart in humusy, fertile soil. Choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade and has consistently moist to wet conditions.
Bulbs are planted directly outdoors in early spring rather than started indoors.
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“Hymenocallis liriosme is native to the southeastern United States, occurring naturally in swamps, pond margins, alluvial woods, and ditches from eastern Texas and Oklahoma eastward to Alabama. This species thrives in habitats where water levels fluctuate seasonally, a heritage reflected in its modern garden use as a water-tolerant ornamental. Unlike the hybrid H. × festalis (which is of garden origin), liriosme represents a true wild species adapted to American wetland ecosystems over centuries.”