Cardiocrinum giganteum – Giant Himalayan Lily – Liliaceae (The Lily Family)

Description Cardiocrinum giganteum is the giant Himalayan lily with thick stems from six to 12 feet high that hold large, white, intensely fragrant, downward-facing trumpets with burgundy throats that will tower above your shade garden and be the inspiration for a hastily arranged garden party! This lily takes seven years to bloom from seed and then dies, leaving behind bulblets that will bloom in two to three years. Until flowering they resemble a large shiny hosta. Plant one to a few bulbs each year for three years to establish your colony. Plants will then become a self-perpetuating colony of great beauty and wonder for years to come. The difference between getting a flowering stem at six feet versus 12 feet is the richness of the soil. Pile on compost every year to achieve maximum height. Protect newly emerging foliage from slugs with an organic slug bait.