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Swamp Lily

Crinum americanum

Other common name(s):

American Crinum Lily, Seven Sisters, Southern Swamp Lily, String Lily, Crinum Lily

Family:

Amaryllidaceae (Daffodil Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

2
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Calcareous, Rich, Poor Drainage, Mud

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Will bloom in deep shade. Does best in water gardens, bogs or ponds, but does well once established in a moist garden soils. Freezes back to water level in winter, but greens up again immediately. Provides good cut flowers. Native habitat: freshwater marshes; cypress swamps, ditches, and lake edges. Propagation: seed, division, bulb, stolen.

Comments

Blooms June-November. Erect plants that grow in small clumps. The long, narrow leaves grow directly from the bulb. Two to six flowers form a showy umbel at the top of the stem. The fragrant flowers are white, sometimes marked with pink. The sepals are 3-4 inches long, joined at the base, forming a long tube. The fruit is a capsule.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Crinum floridanum, Crinum strictum, Crinum strictum var. traubii

References

1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CRAM2; 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=182710#null; 3) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/crinum-americanum/; 4) https://www.fnps.org/plant/crinum-americanum, 5) https://www.gchouston.org/bulb-plant-mart/crinum-americanum/
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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason