Doryanthes excelsa

Doryanthes excelsa Details

Doryanthes excelsa, commonly known as the Gymea Lily, is a flowering plant that grows as a large clump. It comprises sword-like, fibrous leaves, to 1 m in length. Each plant grows from a thickened under­ground stem and will reach about 1.5 m tall and the same wide. Red, trumpet-like flowers, each 10 cm across, are borne on a leafy flowering stem which may reach 6 m in length. These appear in spring-summer and are great for attracting birds. Best performance with this plant is achieved when it is grown on a well-drained site in full sun. It is a hardy plant that will tolerate both dry and coastal conditions but only light frost once established. Doryanthes excelsa is commonly used in coastal gardens, included in mixed plantings, or mass planted on a bank.