Scientific Name: Herpolirion novae-zelandiae

Common Name: sky lily

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Hemerocallidaceae

Form Description: Rhizomatous creeping herb, forming spreading clumps.

Height (m): 0.02 – 0.06

Flowers: Attractive lily flowers, about 2 cm across, white to lilac or blue, always at ground level.

Fruit: Papery capsule – seeds are black and shiny, usually 1 or 2 per loculus.

Municipality
Break O’DayCentral CoastCentral HighlandsCircular HeadDorsetKentishMeander ValleyNorthern MidlandsWest Coast
Plant Communities
Alpine and Sub-alpine VegetationGrasslandHeathSedgeland and Wetland
Habitat Notes

Alpine and sub-alpine areas in moist to wet grass and heath.

Site Tolerance

Moist

Soil Tolerance

Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained

General Notes

Winter chilling apparently necessary for successful flowering. Best success in cultivation is with container-grown plants in cooler temperatures, with the base of the container submerged in water.

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, Division

Seed Information

Seed Treatment Method

Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.

Seed Treatment Notes

Sow seed on moist to wet peat.

Cutting & Division Information

Propagate by division of clumps.