How to Help Protect Rare & Beautiful Spider Lilies

The Catawba River in North and South Carolina is the home of the endangered Rocky Shoals spider lily or Hymenocallis coronaria. It also exists in Lincoln and Elbert counties in Georgia and parts of Alabama. The spider lily grows from a large bulb and attains 3 feet in height. Up to nine fragrant white flowers bloom on a tall stalk from May through June. It grows well in rocks in waterways and is listed as a Federal Candidate Species. If you live in these areas and have a pond, you can help save it from extinction by growing it at home.

Seeds, bulbs or plants
Potting soil
Large pot

Instructions

- 1
  Join your state's Native Plant Society and become involved in conservation efforts. Educating visitors to the habitats where this spider lily grows is an important part of keeping it from becoming extinct.
- 2
  Acquire seeds, bulbs or plants from a reputable source, such as the South Carolina Native Plant Society or the Water Gardeners International.
- 3
  Plant the Rocky Shoals spider lily in a sunny spot amid rocks found in a pond or stream on your property. Keep the area wet at all times: this is an aquatic plant that must live in shallow water.
- 4
  Grow the spider lily in a pot if you wish, according to the Water Gardeners International website. Use a good quality potting mix and fertilize with a plant food having an N-P-K ratio of 17-6-10. Keep the soil wet at all times.
- 5
  Gather seeds and bulbs when your spider lily matures and share them with friends and family members who are also interested in growing this plant and helping it to avoid extinction.

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Bulbs