close

In The Garden: Spider lily is great addition to island gardens

By IN THE GARDEN 2 min read
1 / 2
PHOTO PROVIDED Spider lily
2 / 2

The American spider lily (Hymenocallis latifolia) is a Florida native, as well as a native of the West Indies. It is popular for its foliage and “spidery” snow-white flowers. The perennial species forms clumps of flowers that range from 2-3 feet in height. The spider lily grows from a single bulb and readily reseeds itself.

The plant does best in full sun/partial shade, well drained and sandy loam soil. It is very tolerant of drought as well as salt, making it a great species to use on our islands with its salt spray along the beaches and dry conditions during the winter months. The spider lily can be found naturally on shell mounds, maritime hammocks, coast strand, beach dunes, mangrove swamp edges and brackish swamps.

If one wants to propagate the plant, bulb division is the most effective way of spreading the plant. The spider lily can form a dense ground cover of plants within two years after planting, making the species perfect for clusters as well as specimen species within small tropical gardens of Florida.

Another element that makes the species highly sought after is its low maintenance quality within the garden. The spider lily also blooms throughout the year and is very long living. This lily with its interesting blooms makes a great addition to an island garden.

In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For more information, contact 239-395-5859 or visit www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.