Arthropodium

( ahr - thro - POD - dee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of plants is native to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Madagascar. They produce green, strappy foliage similar to Agapanthus, and white flowers that are held on stems that rise above the foliage. Plants are commonly referred to as Vanilla Lily or Chocolate Lily, due to the fact that in warm weather they emit a scent reminiscent of those flavors. Grow these beautiful edimentals in shaded areas of the garden, in mixed beds, under trees, in containers, or along walkways en masse. They can also be used as no-traffic groundcover. Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as plant parts of some species can be toxic to pets and children if ingested.

Arthropodium Species and Varietals

The genus Arthropodium is a member of the plant family Asparagaceae, and includes nine species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for joint (arthron) and small foot (podion), referring to the jointed pedicels of the flowers. Arthropodium flowers grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7-11 or Sunset growing zones 4-9, 16-26, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga, Renga Lily, New Zealand Rock Lily, Maikaika, Star Lily)
These plants have a rich history of cultivation for the purposes of food and medicine, and can reach up to 2 feet tall. Leaves are green and strappy, and flowers are white with six petals each. These plants are often grown as ornamentals, but do have edible rhizomes.

Arthropodium milleflorum (Pale Vanilla Lily)
These plants have a strong vanilla fragrance, especially on hot days, and flowering stems appear in late spring and summertime. Flowers are white to pale blue or pale pink, and the fleshy underground tubers are edible. Individual plants reach up to just over 4 feet tall when mature and in bloom.

Arthropodium minus (Small Vanilla Lily)
These perennial plants are native to the Southern Hemisphere, and produce roots that are edible. They smell of Vanilla, especially on warmer days, and flower from September through December in their native range. Blooms are pink. This species forms slender, upright plants and commonly grow in Eucalyptus forests in their native range (Australia).

Caring for Arthropodium

Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as plant parts can be toxic to pets and children if ingested. Plant Arthropodium at any time of the year in a space that receives full sun to partial shade; the ideal sun exposure is between 4 and 6 hours per day with some shade during the warmest hours of the afternoon to avoid leaf sunburn. Ensure that there is enough space to accommodate these plants; they are clump-forming and will slowly increase in size over the years, though they are not considered aggressive or invasive in the garden. They appreciate well-draining soil that is rich in nutrients and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. If soil is not well-draining, make sure to amend the planting site with plenty of organic material or compost before installing plants. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly. At maturity, these lilies are considered to be drought tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental waterings during extended periods of dry weather.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Prune off spent flowering stems as they fade to keep plants looking tidy, and remove any dead, damaged, or diseased leaves at their attachment towards the base of the plant. Arthropodium plants are considered long-lived perennials in the garden, with a lifespan of between 10 and 20 years. These plants will form clumps over time which can be divided, providing new plants for decades.

Harvesting Arthropodium
Arthropodium plants grow from rhizome roots, which are used as a famine food and cultivated by native Australian populations. The species most commonly cultivated as crops are Arthropodium cirratum, Arthropodium milleflorum, Arthropodium minus, and Arthropodium strictum. Intentionally cultivated plants grown in rich soil produce much larger rhizomes than wild populations, and roots are sweetest when they are young, becoming bitter with age. In late summer to early fall, dig a trench along the side of plants to reveal the roots underneath. Then, lift the roots out of their hole and rinse them to remove dirt and debris. Roots are most commonly peeled, cut, and roasted, and have a sweet flavor to them.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Arthropodium plants can either be propagated via seed or through the division of their rhizome roots. To propagate your Vanilla Lily, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Arthropodium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. These seeds are best used fresh; viability drops off after the first year, so make sure to sow them soon after harvesting.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place seeds about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with a spray bottle to avoid dislodging them. Place the tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 4-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Arthropodium by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost, and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall (before the plant has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every four to five years for the health of plants, especially if they are grown in a container or a cramped garden space. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Gather your materials. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the rhizome roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick rhizome section with a few growing points.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided rhizomes about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly. If there is above-ground foliage attached to the rhizome, leave it on.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home.