Pale Vanilla Lily

Pale Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium milleflorum) is an Australian native tuberous perennial from the grasslands and woodlands of south-eastern Australia. It forms a tuft of grass-like blue-green leaves 30 to 50cm tall, and in late spring and summer sends up branched stems to 1m carrying many small, nodding, pale lilac to white flowers with a vanilla scent. It is a delicate, seasonal plant for native meadow and woodland plantings.

Why you'll love it

• Vanilla-scented flowers. On a warm, still day the small nodding flowers give off a sweet vanilla perfume.
• Many flowers to a stem. Each tall branched stem carries dozens of pale lilac to white flowers, opening over several weeks.
• Frost hardy. It comes from districts with cold winters and is untroubled by frost.
• Looks after itself. It retreats to its tubers when conditions turn dry and returns with the autumn rain.
• Good for native bees. Native bees work the flowers through late spring and summer.

Where it works best

Native meadow plantings. Plant in drifts among native grasses and wildflowers, 30 to 40cm apart, so the flower stems rise through the surrounding foliage.

Woodland gardens. It suits the light shade beneath eucalypts and other open-canopied trees.

Rockeries and pots. Good drainage suits it, and a pot lets you appreciate the scent at close range.

Growing Pale Vanilla Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or part shade. It is best in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy. It is not suited to humid tropical conditions.

Soil. Well-drained soil. It grows in loam, sandy soil and lighter clay, provided water does not pool around the tubers.

Water and feed. Water through its growing season, from autumn to the end of flowering, if rain is short. Ease off once it starts to yellow. A light feed with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser in autumn is enough.

Pruning. After the seed has set, the leaves and stems yellow and the plant dies back to its tubers below ground. It is not dead. Cut the dry growth off, leave the tubers undisturbed and mark the spot. New leaves appear with the autumn rain.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pale Vanilla Lily in 140mm pots in packs of 10, enough to start a drift in a meadow planting. Depending on the time of year the plants may be in full leaf, in flower or dying back for their summer rest, and a resting pot can look nearly empty while the tubers are alive beneath. Plant at the same depth as the pot and water in. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Australian native plants
• Grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Designing a native garden to attract wildlife
• Plants for native bees

Common questions

My plant has died back. Is it dead?

No. Pale Vanilla Lily dies back to underground tubers after it sets seed, usually in summer. Leave it in place and it reshoots with autumn rain.

Were the tubers eaten?

Yes, the tubers were a traditional food of Aboriginal people in south-eastern Australia. We sell this lily as an ornamental garden plant.

Will it spread?

Clumps thicken slowly as the tubers multiply, and it can self-sow lightly in open ground. It is not invasive and is easy to manage.