Peruvian lily
Plant deeply and avoid disturbing the roots once settled — this genus dislikes being moved.
Care
Standard border siting.
Standard border watering.
Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; resents disturbance once established, as it forms deep, brittle roots.
Pull (don't cut) spent flowering stems from the base with a firm tug to encourage more flowering stems — a genus-specific technique. Cut back dying foliage in autumn.
Feed fortnightly with a high-potash liquid feed while it is in flower — it produces stems for months and a fed plant flowers far longer. A mulch in autumn protects the tubers as well as feeding them.
Divide in spring, with care: the brittle tubers snap easily and a damaged piece rots rather than grows. Take an outer section with roots intact rather than splitting the whole clump, and disturb it as little as possible.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilFeed as growth resumes. how ›
- JunePull out spent flowering stems from the base (don't cut) to encourage more flowers. how ›
- NovemberMulch thickly over the crown for winter protection. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilFeed as growth resumes. how ›
- JunePull out spent flowering stems from the base (don't cut) to encourage more flowers. how ›
- NovemberMulch thickly over the crown for winter protection. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. On young shoots.
What to do. Protect emerging growth.
How to spot it. Mottled, distorted leaves.
What to do. Remove and dispose of affected plants, no cure.
How to spot it. To the crown in a hard winter without mulch.
What to do. Mulch thickly.
Popular varieties
Questions
Peruvian lily: is it hardy?
H4: Hardy through an average UK winter. It survives down to −10 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Resents root disturbance, so choose a permanent pot rather than repotting often.
Peruvian lily: when do you prune it?
Pull (don't cut) spent flowering stems from the base with a firm tug to encourage more flowering stems — a genus-specific technique.
Peruvian lily: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–September.
When do you feed it?
Feed fortnightly with a high-potash liquid feed while it is in flower — it produces stems for months and a fed plant flowers far longer. A mulch in autumn protects the tubers as well as feeding them. Feeding months, UK: May–July.