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Hymenocallis narcissiflora

Image of Hymenocallis narcissiflora

Jesse Saylor

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Botanical Name

Hymenocallis narcissiflora

Plant Common Name

Basket Flower, Peruvian Daffodil

General Description

Peruvian lilies are tender, bulb-forming perennials native to the Andes of Peru and Bolivia. They are grown for their spectacular white flowers that are fringed and fragrant.

This clump-forming plant has thick strap-shaped dark green leaves that arch gracefully. The leaves clasp around each other near the ground to form a “false stem”. In summer, beautiful fragrant white flowers, which look like a cross between a daffodil and spider lily, appear. These have a fringed cup in the middle surrounded by spidery thin petals that curl backwards. The flowers are borne in branched clusters atop tall stems held above the foliage. The fruit is a green capsule which splits to expel the seeds.

Easy to grow, Peruvian lilies are tolerant of evenly moist soils with ample drainage. They prefer light shade particularly in the hottest part of the day. In winter the bulbs will tolerate temperatures around freezing for a limited time; however it’s best to dig and store them indoors in areas with hard winters. Propagate by division or seed. When planting Peruvian lilies, the necks of the large bulbs should be just above the soil layer. As with other bulbs, fertilize when planting and mulch well with a light organic mulch to conserve moisture.

Use Peruvian lilies in shaded beds, borders and containers.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 10

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    8 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Bulb or Corm or Tuber

  • Sun Exposure

    Partial Sun, Partial Shade

  • Height

    20"-24" / 50.8cm - 61.0cm

  • Width

    20"-48" / 50.8cm - 121.9cm

  • Bloom Time

    Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer

  • Native To

    South America

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Wet Site

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Light Yellow

  • Fruit Color

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes