PlantFiles: Galveston Spider Lily
Hymenocallis galvestonensis

The controversial identification of this native plant was finally resolved in 1995 by Thad M. Howard. It is native to East Texas, Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, western Louisiana, and southern Georgia in sandy upland soil. After the leaves disappear in late summer or fall, it produces tall, naked scapes of white flowers in Lycoris fashion. The scapes of H.galvestonensis is round or oval in cross section. The seed is large, somewhat rounded, and pale green. The leaves are wider than other Hymenocallis species and the tips of the leaves are blunt, rather than pointed. It does not tolerate alkaline soil.

I love these plants!! They are so easy to grow. I got a few in trade three or four years ago and they have multiplied to about four times as many. Last year, I neglected them severely and they bloomed anyway, despite being in full 9am to 9pm all day HOT Texas sun and not getting any water except rain. This year, I'm watering regularly and they're blooming their heads off. I don't feed them anything except cow manure and still they're going nuts. The clump is about 5 feet across.

Plus, the white spidery blooms against a backdrop of dark green foliage is just beautiful.

Breathtaking! For those in cooler climates, plant in containers and put in a frost-free spot (such as a basement) and do not water until spring!

This is an excellent bulb to add to ones collection of summer blooming plants. Very easy to grow requiring only minimum care.Plant in well drained beds and give suffieient water during growing period.