Crinum augustum 'Queen Emma', commonly known as Queen Emma giant spider lily, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. Native to tropical Southeast Asia, the plant is commonly grown in Mexico's hot lowlands. Its fragrant white, star-shaped flowers with purple on the back of the petals are borne on large inflorescences on red stems. The handsome, strappy foliage arises from giant fleshy bulbs, which can weigh as much as 20 pounds. The broad, dark maroon-tinted leaves are centered with a depressed midvein that runs the entire length of the leaf, which can reach 36 inches in height.

This striking, exotic plant blooms best in full sunlight in USDA Zones 8 to 11, where it can grow to a height of 5 feet with a 3-foot spread. It requires very high moisture and should not be allowed to dry out between watering. The cultivar is named for humanitarian Queen Emma (Emma Rooke, 1836–85), the queen consort of Kamehameha IV), who ruled Hawaii from 1855 to 1863.