Cape Cowslip or Leopard Lily
Lachenalia species (LILIACEAE)
Planting and Growing Cape Cowslip
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow cape cowslip or leopard lily in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of cape cowslip or leopard lily
- Season of bloom and planting time for cape cowslip or leopard lily
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for cape cowslip or leopard lily
- When, how deep, and where to plant cape cowslip or leopard lily
- How to plant cape cowslip or leopard lily
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of cape cowslip or leopard lily
- Landscape and indoor uses of cape cowslip or leopard lily
- Comments about cape cowslip or leopard lily and its features
Growing Cape Cowslip
Spring bulb. Deciduous. About 90 species. Stands 6–16 in. (15–40 cm) tall. Straplike, paired, short to midlength green, sometimes spotted, leaves.
Cape Cowslip Planting and Care Guide
Flowers
Late winter–early spring. Blue, pink, red, white, yellow, often edged in green, red, purple. Multiple cylinder-shaped flowers, to 1‑1/2‑in. (38‑mm) long, in tiers vertically along a single stalk.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 8–10; ground hardy, zones 9–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Autumn in full sun, zones 9–10; spring, zone 8. Space 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) apart, 2–3 in. (50–75 mm) deep.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist autumn–spring. Fertilize until buds form. Deadhead flowers. Protect from frost, zone 8; sun in hot climates. Propagate by bulbils, seed. Prolong bloom by moving containers to a cool location at night.
Lifting and Storing
Dark, 50–60°F (10–16°C), in net bag or open basket of dry peat moss.
About This Species
Good choice for beds, borders, containers, rock gardens. Popular houseplant. Good for cutting. Slug, snail susceptible.