Anthericum liliago 'Major'

RHS Plant Profile

St Bernard's lily 'Major'

John Fielding

Other common names

St Bernard's lily

Synonyms

Anthericum liliago var. major
Phalangium liliago var. major

Herbaceous Perennial

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An erect herbaceous perennial with clumps of narrow grey-green leaves and trumpet-shaped white flowers 2-3cm in width, in narrow racemes

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed
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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Anthericum are deciduous fleshy-rooted perennials with linear basal leaves and erect stems bearing lax racemes or panicles of starry or trumpet-shaped flowers in spring or summer, followed by brown seed capsules
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Ideally this should be grown in soil that is moist but well-drained in summer and well-drained over winter, this provides the fleshy roots with moisture in summer yet allows it to overwinter. Full sun is essential.

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or autumn or propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Seed spikes are attractive and can be left, but cut them back if you want to prevent self-seeding

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free