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| BEAUTIFUL NATIVE SPIDER LILY FOUND IN SURPRISING PLACES | |
| Published: July 19, 1997 | |
Summer-blooming bulb grows in swamps, marshes and garden bedsQ:Can you identify a flower that is blooming now with amaryllis-type foliage and strongly-perfumed white morning glory-type flower? It has long thin petals from the base of the flower and long pollen stamens.A:Your sketch makes it is easy to recognize the delicate bloom of spider lily (Hymenocalis spp.). Since you describe the plant as blooming now, it is probably H. caroliniana, a fragrant, tough perennial known as swamp lily, a member of the Amaryllis family and native to the Southeast United States. While most of the other Hymenocalis species are spring-bloomers, swamp lily will continue to bloom through early fall.Although preferring boggy sites and full sun, swamp lily will also grow in drier beds with partial shade. Bulbs can be planted year-round, in shallow plantings with about one inch of soil over the top. They may remain in the same place for several years before dividing becomes necessary. Will these plants grow in South Louisiana?Q:Please give me information on the following plants, such as whether or not they will grow here and where I can get them: ceanothus, Abelmoschus manihot, and Doublefile virburnum Summer Snowflake.A:Catalina ceanothus is an evergreen tree or shrub to 20 feet with pale to deep blue fragrant flowers. It is usually grown in the Northwest, most especially on islands off the California coast. Its unlikely that plants thriving in that cool, dry climate will grow well in South Louisiana.Abelmoschus is in the Mallow family which also includes hybiscus. A. manihot, whose common name is silk flower, is a relatively new and reportedly popular species which produces silky pale yellow blossoms with wine-colored hearts. The flowers are borne in late summer on 4 to 6-foot plants. A. manihot probably will grow well in this area under the same conditions as hibiscus. Sorry, no information on sources of A. manihot or ceanothus. Doublefile virburnum Summer Snowflake is one of the virburnums that does grow well in South Louisiana, according to Ken Durio with Louisiana Nursery. This deciduous viburnum produces flat clusters of sterile flowers in spring and very attractive red fruit in autumn. If its not available in a local nursery, your nurseryman can order it for you. For information on a listing in the Louisiana Nursery catalog, call 318-948-3696. Queen Annes Lace looks like ElderberryQ:Isnt elderberry another name for Queen Annes lace?A:No. Although their lacy white flowers are similar, elderberry is Sambucus canadensis and Queen Annes lace is Daucus carota. Elderberry usually grows several feet taller. |