Gymea Lily
Don looked at an extremely rare, white flowering form of Gymea lily (Doryanthes excelsa). The white flowering form is rare because Gymea lily flowers produce nectar and are pollinated by nectar feeding birds, but birds prefer the colour red. Therefore a white flower is less likely to be pollinated in the wild, and would produce less seed than the normal Gymea lily, which has bright, blood-red flowers.
Plant details
Common name: Gymea Lily, Giant Lily
Botanic name: Doryanthes excelsa
Description: Australian native perennial lily with rosettes of large sword-shaped, light green leaves over 1 metre (3′) long . In spring and summer, deep blood-red (or very rarely, white) flowers appear on the end of tall stems or scapes up to 6 metres (20′) tall. Flowers are followed by a woody capsule which splits open when ripe, releasing flat, slightly winged seeds. Plants grown from seed take 6-7 years to flower.
Best climate: Doryanthes excelsa grows best in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and inland zones. It is also worth a try in tropical areas. The flower spikes are sometimes damaged by frosts.
Good points:
Spectacular red flowers (the white form showed in our segment is very rare) Flowers are attractive to nectar feeding birds Handsome bright green foliage Excellent feature plant for large gardens
Downside:
Although seed germinates easily, plants grown from seed are slow growing and take years to flower.
Care: Gymea lilies need deep, well-drained soil and a position in full sun.
Getting started:
White flowering Gymea lilies are not available for sale in nurseries. Red flowering plants are available in the eastern states. Expect to pay $9-$12 for 150mm (6") pots, and $18-$20 for 200mm (8") pots.