Everything about the Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is rather larger than life. The bold foliage can reach over four metres in height and I have personally measured majestic flower stems that were over ten metres tall.
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Wattle bird on Gymea lily flower
Plants live on for many years and grow into massive clumps of shoots many metres in diameter if they have the right environment. This is a plant that not only survives bushfires, but actually thrives on such harsh treatment by blossoming in profusion. The growing points for the plant are able to bury themselves up to 30cm below ground level which also allows gives the plant a great ability to survive drought.
There are only two species of Doryanthes which were once placed in the Agave family but more recently botanists have given them their very own family, Doryanthaceae. This seems fitting as there are no other members of the Australian flora that even approach the impact these majestic plants can bring to the landscape. Genetic studies have recently established that Gymea lilies are more closely related to irises than agaves in fact.
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Doryanthes palmeri - giant spear lily
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Doryanthes palmeri - giant spear lily
In addition to the more commonly grown Gymea lily (D. excelsa) the spear lily (D. palmeri) features an extended toothbrush-like flower head and also makes a worthy addition to larger landscapes. This is considered a vulnerable species in the wild with only eleven known natural populations in the coastal area near the NSW Queensland border. Growing it in our gardens is a wonderful way to ensure the survival of this remarkable species. It has similar growing requirements to the Gymea lily and in spite of its warm climate origins it grows and flowers reliably as far south as Melbourne.
How to grow Gymea Lilies
Doryanthes grow from a large bulb-like structure that buries itself up to half a metre in the soil, allowing the plant to survive through drought and bushfires in the wild.
These are very tough plants that will survive harsh conditions and will grow in positions from full sun through to relatively deep shade, however the less light they receive the less likely it is for them to flower. Frost is a problem for the emerging flower stems, however, flowering plants in the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra attests to the fact that it is possible to grow them to flower in colder climates.
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Doryanthes excelsa - Gymea lily
While it is possible to grow Gymea lilies in pots it does tend to ‘bonsai’ their growth as they need a soil depth of at least half a metre to grow to their full height. If you do need a smaller sized Gymea lily though, restricting the root zone will achieve this. A potting mix that conforms to the regular or premium Australian Standard will be perfect for growing a potted Gymea lily. In the garden it is also important to provide reasonably good drainage as wet feet can result in the shoots rotting out. Plants respond very well to fertiliser which does not necessarily have to be a low phosphorous type, any complete garden fertiliser is suitable.
Maintenance of Gymea lilies in the garden
Gymea lilies require very little maintenance with the removal of any old or damaged leaves and flower stems the only regular tasks. While bushfires are the sure fire trigger for flowering in the wild this is usually not a feasible option in the suburban backyard. However, lodging a stone about the size of a 50c piece in the crown of a large shoot has triggered flowering the following season in my experience. It is possible that the stone causes the plant to produce a natural growth regulator called ethylene that is also present in smoke. This substance is also used to initiate flowering in pineapples and other members of the bromeliad family.
Use of Gymea lilies in landscaping
Doryanthes excelsa – Gymea lily
Gymea lilies have become particularly popular with landscape designers as a bold foliage statement in the landscape. The leaves will generally be much deeper green in colour in shadier growing conditions. They make ideal long term potted plants, although they need to be in a very large container (say 50cm in diameter) to reach flowering size. In relatively deep well drained soils they make an amazing feature plant that will display its flowers in beacon-like fashion with flower stems up to 10 metres in height, emerging from leaves up to 4 metres in length.
Propagation of Gymea lilies
Seed
Gymea lilies are very easy to propagate by seed. The disc-like seeds are ripe when the large round seed heads split open. They should be planted as fresh as possible into a good quality potting mix and only just covered as they need light to germinate. Best planting time is in autumn. The seeds take 1 to 2 months to germinate and should be transplanted into a larger pot after another couple of months. After 12 months the plants will be big enough to put into the garden. Perhaps the only major issue with seed propagation is that it can take up to 10 years for the plant to become large enough to flower, but the plant is attractive and easy care even when not flowering, so is a good garden and landscaping addition.
Division
Old clumps of Gymea lily can be easily multiplied by dividing the plant into individual shoots. Lift the clump with a garden fork (or a mechanical excavator for very large specimens) and simply pull the shoots apart by hand. Trim back the roots and leaves so the shoot will fit neatly into a large pot of a general purpose potting mix. Once the roots start to appear out the bottom of the drainage holes the plants can go out into the garden.
Buying tips
Due to the nature of the Gymea lily large plants can grow quite happily in a relatively small container. The bulb-like shoots are able to renew their root system which means they can form a strong root system once transplanted into the garden. The bottom line is that if you can find a large plant at a good price do not hesitate to buy it as it will flower much quicker than growing a plant from a seedling.