Gymea lily
Doryanthes excelsa
This striking plant makes a bold architectural statement. It is suitable for landscaping and suits a large garden. It is a good rockery plant. It attracts nectar feeding birds and insects. It benefits from extra watering in dry periods. Will flower almost all year round. To increase flowering remove dead foliage during autumn. Heavy frost will damage flower buds.
Type of Plant
Tufted Perennial
Size
1m tall x 1m spread
Flower Structure
Flower heads rich in nectar
Flower Colour
Red
Flowers When?
Winter
Leaves
Large sword shaped leaves
Light Levels
Full Sun, Light Shade, Part Shade
Soil Types
Acid to neutral sandy, Loam, Clay loam, Red volcanic
Soil Moisture
Well Drained
Garden Use
Garden Filler, Feature, Mass plantings, Container
Care
Low maintanance
Special Features
fast growing
Attracts
Bees, Seed Eating Birds, Other Insects, Nectar Eating Birds
Family
Doryanthaceae
Cultivars, Hybrids, Varieties
History, meaning of the name
Doryanthes – a composite of two Greek words, dory (δόρυ), meaning “spear”, and anthos meaning “flower” – capturing the flowers on the end of a spear-like scape. excelsa – derived from the Latin, excelsus, meaning “high” or “lofty”.
Distribution
New South Wales central coast