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Leucocrinum spp.
sand lily
Overview
Leucocrinum spp. is a genus in the family Asparagaceae containing a single species, Leucocrinum montanum, known as sand lily or common starlily, native to the western United States. It is a low, stemless perennial that grows from a crown of fleshy roots, sending up a tuft of narrow, grass-like leaves 8-20 cm (3-8 in) long. In spring the plant produces white, six-tepalled, star-shaped flowers that sit almost at ground level, each on a long, slender perianth tube that runs down to the crown. The flowers are fragrant and open in the morning, with several appearing in succession from a single plant. Seed is set below ground, and the plant becomes dormant by early summer as the soil dries. Leucocrinum spp. grows in dry plains, sagebrush flats, and open pine foothills, often in sandy or gravelly soils, across the interior west from the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada to the Great Plains. It tolerates cold winters and drought but needs the dry summer rest of its native climate, which makes it challenging to keep in irrigated gardens.
Native Range
Leucocrinum montanum is native to the western United States, ranging across the Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, and western Great Plains from Oregon and California east to Nebraska and New Mexico. It grows in dry plains, sagebrush steppe, and open foothill woodland.Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, dryland and native-plant plantings, and sandy beds that stay dry in summer. The low spring flowers suit the front of gravel gardens, with plants left undisturbed once established.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3" - 8"
Width/Spread4" - 10"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in spring, mainly April to June soon after snowmelt, with flowers opening at or just above the soil surface. Several flowers appear in sequence over two to three weeks. The plant sets seed underground and goes dormant by early summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun and require sharply drained sandy or gravelly soil. They need a dry summer dormancy and decline where the soil is watered through the warm months. Established plants are very drought tolerant and cold hardy, drawing on fleshy roots that are easily damaged by disturbance. Propagation is mainly from seed, as the brittle roots transplant poorly. The plant is grown mostly in dryland and native-plant gardens rather than conventional borders.Pruning
No pruning is needed. The leaves and spent flowers wither as the plant enters summer dormancy and are left in place. Growth returns from the crown the following spring.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons