Flower profile
Southern swamp crinum
Crinum americanum
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.
*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.
- 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 #61 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
Southern swamp crinum gift ideas
Handmade southern swamp crinum gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Southern swamp crinum art print
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Southern swamp crinum greeting card
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Southern swamp crinum mug
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Southern swamp crinum earrings
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Southern swamp crinum embroidery pattern
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Southern swamp crinum sticker
When does it bloom?
In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–December.
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?
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
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.
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.
More Florida flowers
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.