Species Cayman Islands spider-lily
Cayman Islands Spider-Lily (Hymenocallis latifolia) featuring long, green leaves and clusters of white flowers with spider-like petals on long green stems

Cayman Islands spider-lily

Hymenocallis latifolia

The Cayman Islands spider-lily (Hymenocallis latifolia) is endemic to the Caribbean Islands and is the national flower of the Cayman Islands. It is an aquatic plant with long, narrow leaves and a unique globate flower. The delicate flowers feature pure white petals that are held outward and have yellow centers, giving them a spider-like appearance. The plant can reach heights of 90cm in the wild and can be found growing in brackish marshlands, swamps, ponds, and other wet areas. With its hardy nature and stunning blooms, the Cayman Islands spider-lily is an excellent addition to water gardens and wetlands.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

10 - 11

Flowers:

White Flowers In Summer

Sun:

full sun

Soil:

Bog

Fruits:

green,brown Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Tropical:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

The cayman Islands spider-lily should be watered once per week, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. When watering, it is important to soak the soil thoroughly and then allow it to drain freely. Avoid overwatering, as this can cause root rot.

sunlight

For the Cayman Islands spider-lily, it is best to provide a location with full sunlight during the warmer months of the year. This will help the flower to bloom, as it needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. It may be able to tolerate some light shade during the hotter hours of the day, but it should be exposed to direct sunlight throughout the mornings and afternoons. In the winter, the plant will need less sunlight, so providing filtered light for it may be beneficial.

pruning

The Cayman Islands Spider-lily should be pruned not less than twice a year, in the spring and fall. Pruning should be done lightly, only trimming broken leaves and dead stalks to maintain the overall shape of the plant. To promote flowering, the stems should be cut back to the ground after flowering. This allows for new growth which will lead to new flowers. Additionally, you can lightly prune any drooping stems to help the plant look its best.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

The Cayman Islands spider-lily typically starts flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from the species Hymenocallis latifolia is usually between June and August.

Hardiness Map