Hey! What is this...

[frostychic]

Anybody know?

This grows in the sand on the beach in Jamaica... it is underneath of a few Almond trees.

I've never seen the leaves die down... here is a photo of the bloom.

My Jamaica friend says it's a "lily" and that it has "bulbs".

Does anyone know what it is?

[syndywindy]

If it's a lily, it sure is beautiful! I'd love to have it growing in my yard, but I'm guessing it's a tropical.

[mayres]

Hymenoccalis "Festalis" - aka Peruvian daffodil, Spider Lily, Sea Lily.
They sell the bulbs here each year and I've often looked at them and wondered what they would be like to grow in my area?
Many internet pics and lots of information about them - here is one - Google Image Result for http://www.dutchbulbs.com/images/products/small/624.jpg

[lmartiny]

Yes, that is a spider lily. They grow wild on the coast. We have them at the beach on the east coast here and I see them along a ditch over there as well. Once the bloom is spent the stalk will sometimes develop a pod, or a bulb that will drop to the ground and start a new plant. I have started a number of them from the pods. And as I sit here, I remember I have several in my golf bag that I had picked up a while back. Think I better go get those.

[Schlyne]

Neat. Thanks for sharing.

[mytwogirls]

Wow it is really pretty. I live in Nebraska, I highly doubt I could get it grow here..ha ha!!

[tansyflower]

We also call them spider liliys. They form nice big drought-tolerant clumps, similar to agapanthus. I didn't realise the were native to US.

[frostychic]

Thanks to everyone for your replies...

I guess now that I think about it ... the stamens (is that what they're called) that have the orange pollen on them do hang out like some of my Asiatic lilies & tiger lily etc.

Awesome that you knew the official name Mayres...

Now I understand ("overstand" as my Jamaican friends would say) why when our friend said that sometimes he picks up their bulbs & plants them around the other Almond trees... I didn't overstand what he was talking about at the time but now reading the info about ... "Once the bloom is spent the stalk will sometimes develop a pod, or a bulb that will drop to the ground and start a new plant."

Now I got it... very cool indeed.

As a matter of fact, my tiger lilies do this same kinda thing... all along the stalk at the axis of each leaf they produce little kernals that are actually not seeds but little plants... exact clones of the parent. I've read that it takes a couple of years (maybe 3) before that little kernal actually will flower. The kernals on the spider plants are pretty small (like smaller than a pea) and I'm guessing the pods & bulbs these beach lilies produce are much bigger?

Imartiny... pic's of them that you fished outta your golf bag please

[orchidlover55]

I would love to come to Jamaica and see it in person the sand looks so nice

[lmartiny]

When I get back I'll post some picts. (I'm remote on the laptop for the weekend; east coast as a matter of fact) I had about 5 bulbs take approx. 7 years ago. All grew at different rates. Two sizeable. One big now and has just put out the bulbs for the first time. I'm 5'4" and it comes up to my waist easily. I've got another few started about two years ago. still quite small. I pulled the ones out of my golf bag and 3 of five are sprouting. Not very green, since no light, but they'll probably do fine and the other two are likely viable as well. Hardy little boogers.

[lmartiny]

I'm bumpimg this up to keep it in the current queue. I'll check and photo my Lily when I get home. They grow naturally here on the east coast as well. I'll look for a photo op.

[lmartiny]

I did't get out to look while on the east coast but here is a photo of the bulbs from the big plant in the yard.
still on the plant

one dropped to the ground

whole plant

These are quite common here and are used a lot in landscaping.

I'll get picts of the sprouting ones tomorrow.

[frostychic]

The big picture of the "whole plant" is just beautiful. Such a lovely, lovely shape of leaves.

I'm hearing that they bloom in pink too... ohh, be still my heart.

Haahahahhaahaa... the cows got onto the beach where the photos I posted are ... they munched the lilies down to about 4" off the ground... but I was told they grow back quickly.

What resilient little buggars... they grow in sand, can tolerate shade, they like salty-sand, they reproduce... it would appear fairly prolifically, can withstand cow-munching & will grow to be a lovely tropical "bush" with exotic looking blooms!

Those bulbs look like onions

[lmartiny]

Well, I haven't gotten a shot of the sprouting ones. They are still just sitting on the bench and I need to pot them up. The pink ones don't seem to reproduce the same. I've got one, but dug it up. I have not seen the pod thing on those.

[benetay]

This is very common here too, they're used for landscaping almost anywhere and everywhere. They grow like weeds here and can be too large sometimes.

Here is one butterfly that loves to hang around the blades of the spider lily.



Cheers!

[Schlyne]

That is a fantastic picture Benetay! Did you use a macro lens? I think a good macro lens has been on my ever since I bought an slr and I still don't have one What is it sitting on, a leaf?

[11Orchid126]

I grow them here in New Jersey but must dig the bulb up and store it in the garage for the winter, then replant again in early spring when the ground has warmed up. Beautiful.

[meanie]

I've tried these here in the Uk 3 times, & every time I get a good healthy plant which dies mid summer before flowering!
I've now decided that next year I should put them into a sand/compost mix, maybe 50/50 mix. Having seen this thread though, I'm tempted to add a little salt too in a couple of pots. Does anyone have any thoughts on this as they are a stunner in the flesh.

[Purest_heart]

I love these plants! I dug some up out a ditch in a marshy area (crazy lady with a shovel in the ditch lol) and they are doing wonders at my house