About
This perennial reaches heights of up to 2 meters, featuring large leaves that can measure up to 30 centimeters in width. At the top, it produces upright racemes of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that are white with purple markings inside the throat.
About the genus
Cardiocrinum consists of sizable bulbous perennials featuring heart-like foliage and trumpet-shaped blooms that are similar to lilies. After flowering, they produce upright, elongated seed capsules. These plants are monocarpic, meaning the bulbs perish following the blooming cycle.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing, South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- Himalayas to China & Myanmar
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moist but well-drained, deep, humus-rich, fertile soil. Intolerant of waterlogging and may need some protection from frosts in colder areas. Mulch and feed regularly. Intolerant of hot or dry sites. Dried seed heads can be used in flower arrangements
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, sowing in deep pans with bottom heat, or from offsets after flowering. May take up to 7 years to flower from seed; offsets may take 4-5 years to flower
- Pest resistance
- May be damaged by slugs
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to a virus