Veltheimia

( velth - EYE - mee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials includes species that grow from bulb and need partial shade and regular water during growing and blooming periods to flower and otherwise perform well. These plants, commonly called Cape Lily, Forest Lily, or Sand Lily, are native to South Africa and produce low-growing rosettes of wavy green leaves. In spring or late fall, flower stems produce pink flowers. These eye-catching plants typically reach between 16 inches and a foot tall when in bloom, with greenish-red stems holding up the spikes of drooping tubular flowers. ​Take care when planting these flowering beauties in the garden, as they are mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Veltheimia Species and Varietals

The genus Veltheimia is a member of the plant family Asparagaceae and includes just two accepted species. The genus is named to honor August Ferdinand von Veltheim, German botanist. These plants grow well in zones ​13 and 16-24; to find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Veltheimia bracteata (Forest Lily, Sand Onion, Red Hot Poker, Unicorn Root, Cape Lily)
These plants produce flowers that range in color from yellow-pink to red. Plants are native to the south-eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, and flower in wintertime in the plant's native range. Individual flowering stems can reach up to 18 inches tall when the plant is in bloom.

Veltheimia capensis (Sand Lily, Elephant's Eye, Winter Veltheimia, Cape Lily)
This species can reach a maximum height of about 18 inches when in bloom, and produce narrowly lance-shaped blue-green foliage. Stems are thick and greenish purple. Blooms are tubular, and vary in color from white with reddish spots to pink with green or reddish markings. Flowers typically bloom in spring and early summertime. 

Caring for Veltheimia

Veltheimia, or Cape Lily, plants are best planted in spring or fall. Space plants about a foot apart for best coverage and airflow. They grow well in full sun; ideally, they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best blooms. Ensure that soil is moderately fertile, well-draining, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). They like a loam or sandy clay loam soil texture. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. 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 as they establish a strong root system in their new home. Withhold waterings when plants are dormant in summertime.

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. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. These plants will die back in summertime, which is their dormant period, and shut down until cooler, wetter weather rolls around in fall and winter. Every few years, especially if these plants are grown in a cramped space such as a container or narrow bed, they may benefit from division. For instructions on how to successfully divide Veltheimia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Growing Veltheimia in Containers
Veltheimia plants perform best when grown in pots, especially outside of their native range. Use a large enough container so that the bulbs have at least three inches of space on each side. Plant in fall in well-draining soil, setting the bulb neck just above the soil surface and place the pot in a space in the garden that is sheltered but in full sun. Water regularly to maintain good moisture in the soil. Withhold waterings when plants are dormant in summertime. Every few years, these plants will need to be divided, as they form clumps that grow over time. For instructions on how to successfully divide Veltheimia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Veltheimia, or Cape Lily, can be propagated by division, cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division or cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Cape Lilies, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Veltheimia by Seed
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants 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 continue 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.
  3. Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your 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 2-6 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.
  4. 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 65 and 72 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 Veltheimia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Select a mature, healthy leaf and sever it near the base with a clean knife. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the leaf base in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. 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, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Veltheimia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall, and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the bulb(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. 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 bulb section attached.
  3. 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 bulbs with their necks just above the soil line and water thoroughly.

Problems and Pests

​Veltheimia, or Cape Lily, plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Caterpillars
  • Slugs and Snails
  • Root Rot
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:
​

Gallery

Veltheimia plants are typically grown in clumps in the landscape.
Veltheimia are commonly grown in greenhouses in areas with particularly cool winters.
Over time, these flowers will form clumps.
These plants produce infloresences that look a bit like Kniphofia, or Red Hot Poker Plant.
Veltheimia seedlings.
These flowers grow very well in containers.

Videos

Learn about these great garden ornamentals.

Resources

Veltheimia bracteata (Forest Lily)
Facts on Veltheimia Plants: Learn About Growing Forest Lily Flowers
How to Grow Veltheimia
Wikipedia: Veltheimia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 645, Veltheimia bracteata