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Pancratium maritimum (Sand Daffodil) - A semi-evergreen bulbous plant related to Narcissus and Galanthus with a large deep bulb with a long neck and glaucous narrow 18 inch long leaves that can remain evergreen with some irrigation, but often dying back at least partially in the dry heat of summer. In later summer into fall appear the 5 inch long by 2 to 3 inch wide pure white spider lily-like (Hymenocallis) flowers with long narrow tubes, flared tepals and funnel-shaped crown held in umbels of 3 to 15 flowers atop 16 inch long scapes. The flowers are have an exotic fragrance in the evening.
Plant in a sandy soil in full sun with little irrigation required in coastal California gardens, but occasional summer water will maintain foliage. Hardy to around 23°F. This beautiful flowering bulb is rarely seen in cultivation but has naturalized in some places along Southern California beaches.
Sand Daffodil is native to beaches and coastal sand dunes in the Canary Islands and throughout the Mediterranean regions from Portugal and the Balearic Islands east to Turkey and around the Black Sea and the Caucasus and also in Africa and Southwest Asia from Morocco east to Israel and Syria. It has naturalized in Bermuda, the Azores and locally on beaches in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The name for the genus is from the Greek words 'pan' and 'kratos' meaning "all strength", probably referring to the strength of a plant that can tolerate extreme conditions and the specific epithet is the Latin word meaning "near the sea" . Other common names include Sand Daffodil, Sea Lily and Sand Lily. Our plants grown from seed collected by Don Harris on a beach in Ventura, CA.
This information about Pancratium maritimum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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