Copy permalink to share

Zephyranthes atamasco (Linnaeus) Herbert. Common name: Common Atamasco-lily. Phenology: Feb-Apr; Apr-Jun. Habitat: Bottomland forests and adjacent road shoulders, wet meadows, sometimes in upland forests over mafic rocks. Distribution: Se. and sc. VA south to n. FL, west to s. MS.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: The correct spelling of the epithet is apparently ‘atamasco’; a conservation proposal (to resolve the uncertainty) has been made and will likely be accepted.

Synonymy : = C, F, G, GW1, POWO, RAB; = Atamosco atamasco (L.) Greene — S, S13; = Hippeastrum atamasco (L.) Christenh. & Byng — Christenhusz, Fay, & Byng (2018); = n/a — Tat; = Zephyranthes atamasca (L.) Herb. — FNA26, K4, Va, orthographic variant; = Zephyranthes atamasca (L.) Herb. var. atamasca — NS, WH3, orthographic variant; Amaryllis atamasco Linnaeus. Basionym: Amaryllis atamasco L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Zephyranthes atamasca - FNA26

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (name change)

Heliophily : 4

Your browser does not support SVGs

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

image of plant© Alan Cressler: zephyranthes atamasca, montezuma bluffs natural area, macon county, georgia 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Zephyranthes atamasca, Tributary to Four Hole Creek, Calhoun County, South Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Zephyranthes atamasco, Brown's Mount, cliffs, Bonds Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Bibb County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Zephyranthes atamasca, Richland County, South Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷

Feedback

See something wrong or missing on about Zephyranthes atamasco? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.


Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Colony-forming, scapose perennial from a bulb; found in bottomland forests and adjacent road shoulders, wet meadows, and sometimes in upland forests over mafic rocks.

Stems: Stem usually a single, hollow flowering scape that may be tinged red.

Leaves: Leaves basal, linear and grass-like, 6-18 in. long, sprawling, shiny and slightly succulent.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flower solitary on the flowering scape, white, 2-4 in. wide, funnel-shaped with 6 spreading tepals that turn pink after pollination, fragrant.

Fruits: Fruit a more or less round, 3-sectioned capsule.

Comments:

Height: 6-8 in.

plant sale text: The Atamasco-lily produces a showy white lily-like flower, three to four inches across, in the springtime. It is seen growing in rich wet woodlands and meadows. Its underground bulb also produces several flat, elongated leaves. The genus Zephyranthes is named after Zephyrus, who according to Greek mythology was the west wind and husband to Chloris, the goddess of flowers.

bloom table text:

description: Colony-forming, scapose perennial from a bulb; found in bottomland forests and adjacent road shoulders, wet meadows, and sometimes in upland forests over mafic rocks.

stems: Stem usually a single, hollow flowering scape that may be tinged red.

leaves: Leaves basal, linear and grass-like, 6-18 in. long, sprawling, shiny and slightly succulent.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flower solitary on the flowering scape, white, 2-4 in. wide, funnel-shaped with 6 spreading tepals that turn pink after pollination, fragrant.

fruits: Fruit a more or less round, 3-sectioned capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code: 1

native range: southeastern United States



0 unsaved edits on this page.