Sprekelia formosissima

RHS Plant Profile

Aztec lily

RHS

Other common names

jacobean amaryllis, Jacobean lily, Mexican fire lily, orchid lily, St James lily, St James's cross lily

Synonyms

Amaryllis formosissima

Conservatory Greenhouse Bulbs

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A tender bulbous perennial to 35cm tall, with several narrowly strap-shaped leaves and a solitary, rather orchid-like bright or deep red flower 12cm wide in spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Sprekelia is a bulbous perennial with arching, strap-shaped leaves and solitary flowers, each with a lance-shaped upper tepal, narrow, spreading lateral tepals and 3 broader, overlapping lower tepals
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant in autumn with the neck and shoulders of the bulb above soil level. Grow under glass in peat-free. loam-based potting compost in full light. Water moderately in growth and apply a half strength liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks after flowering. Reduce water as foliage fades; keep almost dry when dormant

Propagation

Propagate by separating offsets when dormant in early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Susceptible to narcissus leaf scorch