Scientific Name: Caesia alpina

Common Name: alpine grasslily

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Hemerocallidaceae

Form Description: Tufted perennial herbaceous plant, often with curved leaves, and fleshy-fibrous roots.

Flowers: Yellowish-green to greenish-white flowers, on stalks 5mm long.

Fruit: Capsule – strongly lobed and green, even when the seeds are mature. 6-8 seeds are enclosed in each capsule. Seeds are black and firm when ripe.

Municipality
Central HighlandsDerwent ValleyDorsetHuon ValleyKingborough
Plant Communities
Heath
Habitat Notes

Wet heaths and swamp margins, Central Highlands, north-east, east coast and south-west.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Many species are difficult to grow from seed. Seed is released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. Harvest stalks and place upside down in large paper bags until capsules open. Capsules may need to be broken up by hand to extract seed.

Seed Treatment Method

Smoke Smoke treatment improves germination in some species. Smokey products, e.g. smokey vermiculite, can be purchased and applied to the sown seed, or sown seeds can be treated directly with smoke from a source such as a drum with a fire and hose.

Seed Treatment Notes

Sow in autumn following collection. Smoke treatment may improve results. Temperature may be critical in germination – i.e. not above 18°C.

Germination Time

5 months, sporadic