Swamp Lily or River Lily

Description:

Crinum americanum, commonly called Florida crinum lily, southern swamp lily or spider lily, is a tender perennial bulb in the Amaryllis family. It is native to wetlands, swamps, marshes, wet hammocks, and streambanks from South Carolina to Florida and along the Gulf coast to Texas. Fragrant, white (sometimes blushed pink), lily-like flowers (each to 4” wide and long) in 2-6 flowered umbels bloom summer to fall atop leafless scapes rising to 2-3’ tall from a clump of narrow, evergreen, strap-shaped leaves (to 2” wide and to 1-2’ long). Each flower has spreading petals to 1/2” wide and stamens with pink to red stalks. Crinum bulbs are large (to 3-4” diameter) with tapered necks. Genus name comes from the Greek word krinon meaning lily. Specific epithet is in reference to the native American habitat of this lily.

Habitat:

Growing in my Dad's flower garden.