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Cardiocrinum giganteum

giant Himalayan lily

Cardiocrinum giganteum is one of those plants that quietly rewrites your expectations of what a lily can be. Often called the giant Himalayan lily or Yunnan lily, it produces an architectural rosette of fresh green leaves before sending up a dramatic flowering stem that can rise well above head height. Between early and late summer, Cardiocrinum giganteum carries a procession of large, cream-white, trumpet-shaped flowers, each one delicately etched with maroon markings deep in the throat. The scent is unmistakable: rich, warm and softly vanilla-like, drifting through the garden on still evenings. When in bloom, Cardiocrinum giganteum feels less like a border plant and more like a horticultural event, drawing the eye from across the garden and rewarding close inspection with surprising refinement.

Native to the Himalayas and southwestern China, Cardiocrinum giganteum has a fascinating monocarpic life cycle. After flowering, the parent bulb dies, but not before creating a generous colony of offset bulbs around its base, often accompanied by self-sown seedlings nearby. These young plants take patience, typically three to five years, but the resulting display of multiple flowering stems makes the wait worthwhile. Cardiocrinum giganteum thrives in moisture-retentive, humus-rich soil and light shade, echoing its woodland origins. Even once the flowers of the giant Himalayan lily have faded, the tall stems and toothed seed pods dry beautifully, lending a sculptural quality that intrigues visitors long after the main performance has ended.

Quantity

Quantity
1 bulb £14.90 £14.90 each 3 bulbs £41.70 £13.90 each -7% 6 bulbs £76.20 £12.70 each -15%
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Plant profile

Plant calendar
Cardiocrinum giganteum is called the giant Himalayan lily because it naturally inhabits cool, high-altitude forests along the Himalayas.
Good for cutting

Grow in your garden and gather for the vase.

Pollinator-friendly

Welcome bees, butterflies and other pollinators into your garden.

Great for shade

Bring those shady corners of your garden to life.

Perennial

Plant once and enjoy its return, year after year.

Fully hardy

Faces the colder months with quiet resilience.

Packed in paper

We nurture a future that honours the earth.

In good company

Varieties chosen to complement Cardiocrinum giganteum

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In good company

Varieties chosen to complement Cardiocrinum giganteum

Explore all
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Cardiocrinum giganteum reviews

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