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Cardiocrinum giganteum is a lily, and a native of the Himalayas, being recorded in India, Tibet, Pakistan, China & Burma. In its natural habitat (see above) it grows in wet forests at 1600 to 3500 metres; the large trumpet flowers are produced on three to four metre stems in late June or early July. It was first discovered in 1850 by Nathaniel Wallich, and a bulb collected by Major Madden of the Bengal Artillery flowered in Edinburgh around 1852.
A variant from western China, C. giganteum var. yunnanense, has shorter, almost black, flowering stems and its new young heart-shaped leaves are bronze in colour. In recent years pictures have emerged from Japan showing a deep wine-coloured form; I understand seed from this plant has reached a Scottish nursery - an interesting development indeed. Gardeners often complain about the damage excess rain does to our plants; however, this giant lily prospers in areas of high rainfall and I have recently heard that a large commercial seed company has sourced seed from New Zealand where it has become naturalized, no doubt enjoying the high rainfall and generally temperate conditions in its adopted new home.
Cultivation
This dramatic giant lily is intolerant of hot dry conditions, requiring moist but not waterlogged humus-rich conditions if it is to thrive properly. In my own garden I find it responds well to a deep mulch of at least fifteen cm of leaf mould in autumn, followed by several high potash liquid feeds after spring growth commences in late March. At this stage of its early growth the emerging leaves may be damaged by late spring frosts and particular care must be taken to avoid damage by slugs. Later, plants may be attacked by Lily Beetle, which can damage the leaves heavily.
Propagation
I find that the giant lily sets copious amounts of seed. The eye-catching seed heads remain prominent on the tall stems during the summer ripening well into September or October. The resultant seed germinates in its first spring but the seedlings will not reach flowering size for about six years. This method of propagation is therefore only for the most patient of gardeners who are prepared to reserve a patch of ground for a long time! C. giganteum is monocarpic. However, in the years when bulbs are approaching flowering size they produce many side bulbs that should be replanted and naturalized carefully until they reach flowering size three or four years later.
The impressively statuesque flowering stems of C. giganteum in my own garden carry flowers whose wonderful scent often reaches my neighbours on a gentle evening breeze, bringing requests for a closer look at the source. I have been growing this dramatic and beautiful plant for four decades. Each spring I look forward to the excitement of the leaves emerging through the deep mulch, with of course the promise of the delights to follow later in the year. I can only encourage you to try to find space for it in your own garden and heart.
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Wild Cardiocrinum in Sikkim
