The Cahaba Lily

(Hymenocallis coronaria)

From early May to late June, the shoals of the Cahaba River are transformed into a showcase of floral delight as the rare Cahaba Lily blooms.  Found only in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina; the Cahaba Lily requires swift current and direct sunlight to flourish.  The largest stand of this flower in the world is located at Hargrove Shoals, about 2.4 miles south of a good canoe put in located at the Co. Rd. 24 bridge near Piper, AL.

The plant grows to about 3' tall and develops from a bulb that lodges in between rocks in the shoals.  It flowers from roughly between Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Each delicate, lightly fragranced flower blooms for one day.

The Cahaba River Society provides "guided" canoe trips to see the Lily.  For a schedule of these trips, view THIS page.

1. Take I-59 south from Birmingham for about 30 miles to the Highway 5 West Blocton/Centreville exit.
2. Hwy 5/Hwy 11 is 4-lane for about 3 miles where Hwy 5 turns abruptly south as a 2-lane. Watch for this turn!
3. Travel 10 miles south on Hwy 5 to a Blinking yellow light. Turn left (onto county road 24) to West Blocton.
4. Continue straight at the stop sign (passing West Blocton High School and West Blocton Elementary on the right) for 5 miles to the Cahaba River.
5. A couple of hundred yards before you can actually see the bridge, turn south (right) on a rough dirt road which runs along the west side of the river. Use your judgment about whether your vehicle can negotiate the road.
6. There is a good stand of lilies just under 1 mile down the road, and the largest stand in the world just over 2 miles down the road