Garlic Lily Plant Care
Calostemma purpureum R.Br.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Calostemma purpureum, the garland lily, is a long-lived perennial flowering plant that is native to South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Flowers may be cream, yellow, pink or purple.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Garlic Lily?
Water Garlic Lily every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Garlic Lily Native To?
What Is the Garlic Lily?
Garlic Lily (Calostemma purpureum) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Calostemma genus. Garlic Lily is native to South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Garlic Lily is also known as Purple Star-lily.
Garlic Lily displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Garlic Lily produces star-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Garlic Lily?
Calostemma purpureum requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Garlic Lily Need?
Garlic Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Garlic Lily Prefer?
Calostemma purpureum grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Garlic Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Garlic Lily?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Garlic Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Garlic Lily?
Feed Garlic Lily every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Garlic Lily?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Garlic Lily?
Garlic Lily can be propagated through offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to yellow garland lily plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Garlic Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to pets, can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Garlic Lily?
Garlic Lily is susceptible to aphids, thrips, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Garlic Lily Need?
Garlic Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Garlic Lily is native to South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. In cooler regions, grow Garlic Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Garlic Lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Calostemma genus — compare its care with other Calostemma species on PlantoScan.
Calostemma is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
Garlic Lily thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Calostemma purpureum R.Br., family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. : 298 (1810)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Garlic Lily is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Garlic Lily Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species