| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | There is only one known NC collection of what is/was considered to be a natural occurrence, from a marsh in New Hanover County. This species is commonly cultivated, and thus NC occurrences must be treated at first with skepticism before being accepted as a natural occurrence. There are correctly identified photos of this species on iNaturalist from man-made ponds in New Hanover and Brunswick counties, in 2023 and 2025, where the individuals likely were not planted, but certainly cannot be considered to be natural occurrences. These are mapped below as Non-natural Occurrences, as man-made ponds frequently contain plants far from their natural ranges. Though Crinum originally may have ranged naturally to southeastern NC, it is best to consider it as likely extirpated as a native species.
This is a Southern Coastal Plain species, being found northward only to extreme southeastern NC, and south to southern FL and west to TX. There are very few county records for states other than FL; its G5 rank comes from the fact that it ranges well to the south of the U.S. | |
| Abundance | Considered of historical occurrence in NC, with the only collection from 1975. As it is very conspicuous when in flower, the fact that there seem to be no other records since then -- other than from man-made pond margins -- suggests that it is not being overlooked. It is State listed as Special Concern - Historical. The website editors wish to be conservative about its natural occurrence in NC and suggest a State Rank of SE? (Exotic?), especially as records from SC and GA also arouse suspicion as being of natural occurrences as well. | |
| Habitat | This species is mostly found in swamp forests, but the NC record is from a large freshwater marsh. However, marshes are also a suitable habitat within the native range. Recent records are from newly created ponds. | |
| Phenology | Blooms from June to October, and fruits soon after flowering. | |
| Identification | This is a spectacular flower when in bloom, it having one of the state's largest flowers. It has a handful of very long, strap-like basal leaves; each leaf is 2-2.5 feet long but barely 2 inches wide. The flowering stalk grows to about 2 feet high and contains several huge white flowers in an umbel at the top. Each of the 6 tepals is 3-4 inches long but much narrower, recurved, with a long stamen containing a conspicuous reddish filament and a yellowish anther. No other native plant in the state looks like Crinum, though spider-lilies (Hymenocallis spp.) look vaguely like it; these species have a partly united perianth (tepals) that form a cup, beyond which extend the very long and narrow "spider" portions of the tepals. Sadly, to see Crinum in the state, you will have to visit a garden or arboretum. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | There are several varieties of this species, and the one in the southeastern US is C. americanum var. americanum.
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| Other Common Name(s) | String-lily, Seven Sisters, Florida Swamp-lily | |
| State Rank | SH [SE?] | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | [SC-H] | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | FAC link |
