Gymea Lily

The Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is one of the great architectural statements of Australian horticulture: a fountain of sword shaped leaves building to a 2m to 3m clump, and then, in season, a flower spike that rockets 5m or more into the air carrying a head of huge red blooms the honeyeaters treat as an event. Native to the Sydney sandstone country, it is drought tolerant, salt tolerant and close to indestructible in the right position.

Why you'll love it

• Sculpture first, flowers second. The evergreen leaf fountain is a designer feature all year, with or without the spike.
• A flower you can see from the street. The metres tall spike topped with football sized red heads is unlike anything else in a suburban garden.
• Bird magnet. Wattlebirds and honeyeaters patrol a flowering gymea daily for its nectar.
• Thrives on neglect. Poor sandy soil, drought, wind and coastal salt are home conditions. Once established it asks for nothing.
• Fire and time proof. These are long lived plants that anchor a landscape for decades.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One clump beside an entry, wall or pool is a complete composition. Give it a 3m circle to fill.

Coastal gardens. Salt wind and sand are its natural habitat; it holds its polish where soft foliage shreds.

Rockeries and native gardens. Among boulders, grasses and banksias it looks exactly like the Sydney bushland that grows it wild.

Large pots. A young plant makes a striking container feature for years before graduating to the garden.

Growing the Gymea Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade. It thrives in subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates, and takes light frost once established; in colder districts site it against a warm wall.

Soil. Free draining, and sandy is ideal. On clay, build a raised mound. It resents wet feet more than anything else.

Water and feed. Water fortnightly through the first summer, then hand it over to the weather. A native safe slow release feed in spring speeds the clump along; overfeeding just grows soft leaves.

Maintenance. Remove spent outer leaves occasionally and cut the flowered spike at the base when it browns. That is the whole job list.

What to expect when it arrives

Gymea lilies ship from 140mm packs of 10 and 200mm packs of 6 (the value route to a massed native planting) through single 300mm and 400mm plants, up to advanced 45L clumps with serious presence on arrival. Delivery is Australia wide, from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced stock is freighted at cost. Be patient on flowering: gymeas bloom when the clump reaches maturity, and the foliage carries the design until the spike arrives. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• More architectural plants
• Browse all Australian natives
• Plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

When will mine flower?

When the clump is mature, typically after several years in the ground, and not necessarily every year after that. Buy the biggest plant you can if the spike is the priority; the 45L stock is years ahead.

How tall does the flower spike really get?

Commonly 4m to 6m above the clump in good conditions. It is self supporting and needs no staking, even in wind.

Is it safe near paths and pools?

Yes. The leaves are firm but not spined, there are no invasive roots, and it drops very little. It is one of the lowest mess feature plants for poolside planting.

Can I grow it in Melbourne?

In a warm, sunny, well drained position it grows well in Melbourne, though flowering is less frequent than in Sydney or Brisbane. Hard frost districts inland are the real limit.