Flower profile

Southern swamp crinum

Crinum americanum

Southern swamp crinum (Crinum americanum) is a flowering plant in the Amaryllidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–December across the U.S.

Native to Florida

Southern swamp crinum is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.

9states where USDA records it

3,996FL sightings*

4,796U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Crinum americanum is an aquatic angiosperm native to North America from Texas to South Carolina, as well as Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Common names for this species include Florida swamp-lily, string lily, and southern swamp crinum. The species grows in small groups in still water habitats.
From Wikipedia's article Crinum americanum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,996 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #64 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–December.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (274 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “If ingested, may cause nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, children and dogs

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, children and dogs. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Southern swamp crinum in 9 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas.

Florida counties with USDA records: Brevard, Citrus, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Hendry, Hernando, Indian River, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Levy, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Crinum floridanum, Crinum strictum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 53 counties across 5 states; the most are in Florida (29), Louisiana (15), Texas (5).

More from the Amaryllidaceae family (13 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Crowpoison, Wild garlic, Wide leek, Drummond's rain lily, Nodding onion, Brazos rain-lily, Red spider lily, Atamasco lily.

More Florida flowers

Daffodil

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🌷 Garden flower

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White beggarticks

Bidens alba

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American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

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🌼 Blooms in FL: May–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CRAM2.
iNaturalist, Crinum americanum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Crinum americanum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Crinum americanum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Jonathan Layman via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.