Woodland Spider Lily

Hymenocallis occidentalis

Woodland Spider Lily is a bulb for bulb layer, focal point, suited to shade and partial shade and clay, loam, acid soil or moist ground, flowering Apr, May, Jun.

Where to use it in a border

At around 60 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 6a to 9b and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Woodland Spider Lily's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
• It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Cascade Oregon Grapeto edge in front
• Chinese Wild Gingerto edge in front
• Dusky cranesbill 'Samobor'to edge in front
• False Lily-of-the-Valleyto edge in front
• Fringed Bleeding Heartto edge in front
• Hartweg's Wild Gingerto edge in front

Garden styles

Shade cottage Wildlife garden Woodland