Beach Spider Lily (Hymenocallis littoralis)

A Moonlit Paradise

Turn your garden into a moonlit paradise with the elegant blooms of Hymenocallis littoralis — the spider lily that intensifies its fragrance at night and can bloom repeatedly. Often called the Beach Spider Lily or Peruvian Daffodil, this Hymenocallis is ideal along the coast in zones 9–11 (hence the “Beach Spider Lily” name), but it can work well in zones 7 and 8 if you plant it in a pot and bring it indoors during the winter.

Blooms and Reblooming

This spider lily grows two to three feet tall with spidery blooms about three to five inches long that extend outward truly looking like spider legs. In zones 9–11, this Hymenocallis will rebloom! It begins to bloom in late spring and continues through early fall. In cooler climates or when grown in containers, it may only bloom once per season, usually in early summer.

The spidery blooms open during the day and stay open throughout the afternoon and evening. There are multiple flowers on each stalk. Each bloom usually lasts a couple of days, but the plant will produce multiple flower stalks throughout the season, giving it a prolonged bloom display. You may want to consider planting this near the Tropical Giant, which has similar foliage but blooms in mid-July.

Night Fragrance

The really special thing about this Hymenocallis is that the fragrance intensifies at night, which seems to attract nighttime pollinators like moths. Plant it near a patio, bedroom window, or evening gathering spot where you can enjoy the perfume as the sun goes down.

Striking Foliage

The foliage is as striking as the blooms! It has long, strap-like leaves that are eighteen to twenty-four inches long and about two inches wide. The leaves are a rich, deep green with a glossy finish. They arch gracefully, producing a lush, fountain-like clump from the base. The foliage holds its shape very well in full sun throughout the hot, humid summer and fall in the South. It will die back with the first frost — so if there is no frost, the foliage will look great all year long! The foliage alone makes this plant worthy of your container or border.

Encouraging Repeat Bloom

To keep the Beach Spider Lily blooming again and again, give it consistent moisture (but well-drained soil), bright light or filtered sun, and light fertilizer during the growing season. Remove spent flower stalks to encourage new ones. If overwintered indoors in colder zones, it may take time to reestablish blooming the following season, but with good care, repeat blooms are very possible.

Planting

Plant this bulb in well-drained soil, but keep in mind — it thrives with consistent moisture. Daily summer showers or irrigation are great. Just be sure the soil doesn’t stay soggy for long periods. It can tolerate some flooding, which makes it ideal for pond edges or rain gardens. This bulb loves full summer sun (ten to fifteen hours a day) but can tolerate some shade. Afternoon shade or dappled sunlight in late afternoon helps it perform best.

Container Growing

This plant looks great grown in pots. It can be left outside in the sun and rain during the summer to add some greenery to your patio. Be sure to bring the pot indoors though if the temperatures drop below 35 degrees.

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Hardy in Zones 9–11 (zones 7–8 in containers)

Height: 2–3 feet

Bloom Season: Late spring through early fall (reblooming!)

Sun: Full sun (10+ hours); tolerates some afternoon shade

Special: Fragrance intensifies at night