Celestial lily

Pictured above: Celestial lily (Nemastylis floridana) by Mary Keim. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.

As it name suggests, Celestial lily (Nemastylis floridana) is a heavenly little wildflower found in wet flatwoods and freshwater marshes and swamps. Its dainty violet flowers bloom August through October and attract mostly bees. In his book, Central Florida Wildflowers, Roger Hammer christens the plant as “Happy hour flower,” as its ephemeral blooms only open in the afternoon and close by dusk. Another common name is Fall-flowering ixia, alluding to its bloom season. The plant is endemic to peninsular Florida. Once common, it is now a state-listed endangered species, largely due to loss of habitat and fire suppression. It is the only species of Nemastylis to occur in Florida.

Celestial lily’s bluish to purple flower is composed of a 6-parted perianth, with 3 petals and 3 sepals that are wide-spreading. Stamens are thick, bright yellow and number 3. Anthers are twisted. The style is whitish and split into 6 threadlike branches. Basal leaves are few, long (12–18 inches) and grass-like. Stem leaves are reduced. Stems are thin and may grow to 2½ feet tall. The fruit is an oval capsule.

The genus name Nemastylis is from the Greek nema, meaning “thread,” and stylos, meaning “pillar” or “rod.” It refers to the flowers threadlike style.

Family: Iridaceae (Iris family)
Native range: Occurs mainly in the St. John’s River basin counties, with localized populations in Pasco, Polk, Lake, Martin, Palm Beach and Broward counties
To see where natural populations of Celestial lily have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.
Lifespan: Perennial
Soil: Moist to wet, well-drained soils
Exposure: Full sun to minimal shade
Growth habit: up to 2½’ tall
Garden tips: Celestial lily is not commercially propagated. Visit a natural area to see it.

Plants are occasionally available from nurseries that specialize in Florida native plants. Visit www.PlantRealFlorida.org to find a nursery in your area.