Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Marcus, Joseph A.

Habranthus tubispathus

Habranthus tubispathus (L'Hér.) Traub

Rio Grande Copperlily, Copper Lily, Rio Grande Copper-lily

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Synonym(s): Habranthus texanus, Zephyranthes texana

USDA Symbol: HATU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Rio Grande Copper-lily is a low, smooth perennial, 6-12 in. tall, with a golden-yellow, solitary, terminal flower. Narrow, smooth, thick leaves appear after flowers have withered.

Flowers after the rains of late summer and fall. Very showy when planted in groups where flowers make a mass of color after rains.

From the Image Gallery

29 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Fruit: Capsule 3-locular. Seeds flat, dark brown to black.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Bright yellow to orangish yellow.

Distribution

USA: FL , LA , TX
Native Distribution: E. two-thirds of TX
Native Habitat: Moist, grassy swales & pastures

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Various somewhat moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Flowers after the rains of late summer and fall. Very showy when planted in groups where flowers make a mass of color after rains.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW					FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0024 Collected July 23, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-160 Collected 2007-09-29 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LBJWC-1599 Collected 2013-09-10 in McLennan County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

2 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Habranthus tubispathus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Habranthus tubispathus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Habranthus tubispathus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-11
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back