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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

Moths

Maintenance

Not fussy about the amount of sun or shade it gets. Will bloom in deep shade. Does best in water garden, bog or pond, but does well once established in a moist garden setting. Freezes back to water level in winter, but greens up again immediately. Provides good cut flowers.

Comments

Blooms June-November. Erect plants that grow in small clumps. The long, narrow leaves grow directly from the bulb. Two-six flowers forming 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, Native Habitat: Freshwater marshes; cypress swamps, ditch & lake edges. Attracts: bees.
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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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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