THE GIANT HIMALAYAN LILY - Cardiocrinum giganteum

THE GIANT HIMALAYAN LILY - Cardiocrinum giganteum

The giant Himalayan lily - Cardiocrinum giganteum, is truly a king amongst flowering bulbs. In fact it is the largest species of any of the lily plants, growing up to 3.5 metres in height. It was first discovered by western explorers in Nepal and introduced into commercial production in Britain in the 1850s.

THE GIANT HIMALAYAN LILY ILLUSTRATION

Native to the Himalayas (as indicated by its common name) you will find clumps of Cardiocrinum giganteum growing in woodland clearings at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,600 metres.

In their natural habitat these magnificent plants can grow up to an incredible four metres tall and carry as many as 20 large, white, sweetly fragrant flowers. These flowers are produced on a single stem that emerges from each bulb. Sadly the bulb dies after flowering but it would have produced a number of new offsets which carry on the genetic line.

With regards to propagation, each of these offsets can be separated and re-planted just below the soil surface. While these offsets will flower much sooner that the parent bulb, taking only three to five years, specimens grown from offsets will never reach the stature of plants grown from seed.

Seed grown bulbs will take about seven years to reach flowering size, by which time it has a diameter of at least 20 centimetres and has managed to make itself partially visible by having physically pushed itself half way out of the soil. This does means that Cardiocrinum giganteum it is quite shallow rooted, and it is not uncommon to find a flowering stem that has keeled over due to the weight of its waxy flowers.

For related articles click onto the following links:
Hardy Spider Lilies
HOW TO GROW THE ARUM LILY FROM SEED
HOW TO GROW THE GIANT HIMALAYAN LILY - Cardiocrinum giganteum
HOW TO GROW THE GIANT HIMALAYAN LILY FROM SEED
HOW TO GROW THE SEA DAFFODIL
How to Grow the Foxtail Lily
How to Grow the Guernsey Lily
How to Grow the Sea Daffodil
How to Grow Spider Lilies
LILIUM NEPALENSE - The Lily of Nepal
SPIDER LILY - Hymenocallis species and cultivars
The Arum Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica
THE BLACK LILY - Lilium 'Landini'
THE CANNA LILY
THE GIANT HIMALAYAN LILY - Cardiocrinum giganteum
THE SEA DAFFODIL - Pancratium maritimum