Hymenocallis: Country Or Region Of Origin
USA, NC, South America
Plant Profile: Hymenocallis
Taxonomy: HymenocallisNames
Basket Flower, Ismene, Peruvian Daffodil, Sea Daffodil, Spider Lily
Phonetic Spelling:hy-men-oh-KAL-liss
Genus:Hymenocallis
Species:
Family:Amaryllidaceae
These aromatic blooms emerge from bare stems and flourish best in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil, although they can also adapt to sandy or clay environments. For optimal growth, plant the bulbs at a depth of 5 inches (12.5 cm) and space them 8 inches (20 cm) apart, with one bulb per 5-inch pot.
Commonly found in indoor settings or as part of an interiorscape, these plants thrive in natural habitats such as marshes, shallow streams, and ditches, and are often used in flower gardens as herbaceous perennials.
Tags
#cultivars
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#water garden
#fragrant flowers
#houseplant
#perennial bulb
#summer flowers
Similar Plants
Hymenocallis Feature Summary
Attributes
USA, NC, South America
Southern Coastal Plain
Place container-grown plants indoors and grow them at 55-65 degrees F (13-18C). To store unplanted bulbs, harvest them carefully, leaving soil around the roots, and store dry at 60-70 degrees F (16-21C)
Perennial
Flowers
flowers fragrant, white or ivory, 6-parted, funnel-shaped, the 6 stamens connected at base with a thin white membrane
White
Cream/Tan
Fragrant
fused petals
6 petals/rays
Funnel
Leaves
basal, strap-like
Stem
leafless stem
Poisonous to Humans
Poison Part: Bulbs Poison Delivery Mode: Ingestion Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Lycorine and other phenanthridine alkaloids
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Poisonous
Houseplant
Bulb
Water Plant
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Clay
High Organic Matter
Sand
Landscape
Rain Garden
Water Garden
Wet Soil
Naturalized Area
Houseplants
Pond
Hummingbirds
Poisonous to Humans
Hymenocallis Image Gallery
Hymenocallis Attributes
Hymenocallis: Distribution
Southern Coastal Plain
Hymenocallis: Bulb Storage
Place container-grown plants indoors and grow them at 55-65 degrees F (13-18C). To store unplanted bulbs, harvest them carefully, leaving soil around the roots, and store dry at 60-70 degrees F (16-21C)
Hymenocallis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Hymenocallis Flowers
Hymenocallis: Flower Description
flowers fragrant, white or ivory, 6-parted, funnel-shaped, the 6 stamens connected at base with a thin white membrane
Hymenocallis: Flower Color
Cream/Tan
White
Hymenocallis: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Hymenocallis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Hymenocallis: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Hymenocallis Leaves
Hymenocallis: Leaf Description
basal, strap-like
Hymenocallis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Hymenocallis Stem
Hymenocallis: Stem Description
leafless stem
Hymenocallis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Hymenocallis Poisonous to Humans
Hymenocallis: Poison Symptoms
Poison Part: Bulbs Poison Delivery Mode: Ingestion Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Hymenocallis: Poison Toxic Principle
Lycorine and other phenanthridine alkaloids
Hymenocallis: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Hymenocallis: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Hymenocallis: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Hymenocallis Whole Plant Traits
Hymenocallis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Hymenocallis Cultural Conditions
Hymenocallis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Hymenocallis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Hymenocallis: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Hymenocallis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Hymenocallis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Hymenocallis Landscape
Hymenocallis: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Hymenocallis: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Hymenocallis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Hymenocallis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Hymenocallis: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
