We had a nice weekend of hot weather, but it finally started raining. We have been in such a drought that any rain at all is a welcome site. After the rain cleared out our unknown bulb started blooming, rapidly. We were given this and told it was a “4th of July plant” and it started looking very star trek like before the blooms opened.
Cahaba or Shoals Spider Lily
Once the blooms opened we could see that it was indeed what is known locally in Alabama as the Cahaba Lily. Hymenocallis coronaria (Cahaba Lily or Shoals spider-lily), is known within the state of Alabama as the Cahaba Lily (outside the state it is known as the Shoals spider-lily) because it grows on the banks of the Cahaba River. It is actually an Amaryllis bulb and should multiple quite nicely in our garden.
You can see from the image that it has several more blooms to go, hopefully we can get some more rain over the next few days and it should be very happy. What is funny about this Lily is we actually got it from Texas. My father-in-law ordered it online, probably at Jackson & Perkins, but we took it from the box in Texas, back over here to Alabama and planted it in the garden back in March/April.
The image was taken very late in the afternoon. I love photography of flowers, but the conditions have to be just right to be able to get a sharp image, with a good background, and in good light. Especially when photographing a white flower, special care should be taken not to overexpose the white part of the flower.
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4 responses to “Cahaba or Shoals Spider Lily in Full Summer Bloom”
I don’t like flowers, but this is BEAUTIFUL. Great pic.
Mandys last blog post..I heart The Soup & the iphone
In Haiti where I live and work as Missionary, we call these (translated of course) naked lady lily’s… it always makes us giggle to tell visitors.. Don’t know why they are called that, but am happy to find them someplace else so I have a point of reference. Depending on your frost zone they make actually get invasive on you, they did in my garden. Although invasive happened after 5 years.
Blessings
I am so glad to find your blog about this lily.
I have one blooming on my patio and did not know what it was…finally googled and found your picture. All of the time I was watching it grow I was expecting a big red amarylis…what a surprise. I am in W.Texas and we have had a drought then 2 inches rain. Maybe that is the key to getting them to bloom. Thank you for your information.
[…] This is my once-a-year photo opportunity and subsequent post for one of the most beautiful and fragile-looking blooms in our garden: the Cahaba Lily. In fact, the last time I was able to post these blooms of any quality was back in 2008 with this post, Cahaba or Shoals Spider Lily in Full Summer Bloom. […]