About

Hymenocallis festalis of gardens is a bulbous member of the Amaryllidaceae distinguished by its spidery blooms, formed where a membranous cup links the bases of the stamens. The flowering clusters are typically green, white or yellow and often fragrant. Leaves arise as strap-shaped basal rosettes and the plant flowers in the UK from June to August. It is also known by the common names Lily and Spider.

About the genus

Hymenocallis (US) or (UK) is a genus of flowering plants in the Amaryllidaceae family native to the Americas.

Wikipedia contributors, "Hymenocallis", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Hymenocallis

In the garden

Hymenocallis festalis of gardens belongs to the genus Hymenocallis in the Amaryllidaceae and is cultivated for its terminal clusters of spidery, membranous-cupped flowers. The wider group contains many bulbous perennials and species within it occupy a range of sites in their native habitats, from marshes and streambanks to drier grassy slopes; this variation is why siting matters when choosing a cultivar for a UK garden. Select a planting spot that suits the particular strain you have: types from wet habitats perform best in reliably damp ground or on pond margins, whereas forms from drier origins will prefer a freely draining, sunlit bank. Plant bulbs at an appropriate depth in soil that is enriched and given steady moisture through the growing season; avoid prolonged waterlogging for the drier types. Flowering in the UK is from June to August, producing showy clusters that can be fragrant and make an impact in a summer border. Use individual plants at the edge of a water feature or in a mixed herbaceous border where their tall flowering stalks can be displayed; the delicate, cup-like membrane that joins the stamens is the feature to look for when selecting a specimen.

From the Fenn Plants journal

• Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
• Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
• Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.

More in the Hymenocallis genus

• 
  Hymenocallis 'Sulphur Queen'
• 
  Hymenocallis calathinaLily
• 
  Hymenocallis macrostephanaday lily
• Hymenocallis 'Zwanenburg'