Overview

Anthericum liliago is a columnar upright herbaceous perennial in the genus Anthericum, part of the Asparagaceae family, with deciduous foliage. It typically grows around 0.5-1 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 2-5 years. Anthericum liliago grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, low maintenance, banks and slopes, flower borders and beds and cut flowers. It is native to Belgium, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Portugal Continental.

About

Anthericum liliago, the St Bernard's lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is native to mainland Europe (not the British Isles) and Turkey, growing in dry pastures, stony places and open woods and flowering in early summer. In Sweden, the northernmost stable populations grows along the rocky shores of Lake Sommen (58° N), albeit on occasions it has been found as far north as Uppland (60° N). It grows to around 0.5-1 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, carrying deciduous foliage. Grow it in full sun and most soil types. It tolerates soil of any pH, moist but well-drained, well-drained conditions and south-facing, east-facing and west-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Anthericum liliago

About the genus

Anthericum is a genus of species, rhizomatous perennial plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. It was formerly placed in its own family, Anthericaceae. The species have rhizomatous or tuberous roots, long narrow leaves and branched stems carrying starry white flowers.

Wikipedia contributors, "Anthericum", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Anthericum

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Anthericum

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Anthericum liliago size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Columnar upright

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

0.5-1 metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Low Maintenance, Banks and slopes, Flower borders and beds, Cut flowers

Native to

Belgium, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Portugal Continental

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Anthericum liliago

Propagation

Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or autumn, Division in spring

Pest resistance

Slugs, Snails

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions