Giant Himalayan Lily Plant Care

Cardiocrinum giganteum var. giganteum

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Cardiocrinum giganteum, the giant Himalayan lily, is the largest species of any of the lily plants, growing up to 3.5 metres high. It is found in the Himalayas, China and Myanmar (Burma).Varieties

🌼Perennials🧅Bulbs & Tubers
Water

Every 7–10 days

Light

Partial shade to dappled sunlight

Temp

50–75°F

Humidity

50–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Giant Himalayan Lily?

Water Giant Himalayan Lily every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to dappled sunlight. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 50–70% 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 Giant Himalayan Lily Native To?

Native range6 countries

What Is the Giant Himalayan Lily?

Giant Himalayan Lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum var. giganteum) belongs to the Liliaceae family within the Cardiocrinum genus. Giant Himalayan Lily is native to the Himalayas, China and Myanmar (Burma). Giant Himalayan Lily is also known as Himalayan Lily.

Giant Himalayan Lily displays a tall, majestic perennial growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Giant Himalayan Lily produces large, fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers in summer.

Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Giant Himalayan Lily?

Cardiocrinum giganteum var. giganteum 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 Giant Himalayan Lily Need?

Giant Himalayan Lily thrives in partial shade to dappled sunlight. Avoid placing Giant Himalayan Lily in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Light Requirement

Partial shade to dappled sunlight

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Giant Himalayan Lily Prefer?

Cardiocrinum giganteum var. giganteum grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Giant Himalayan Lily prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Temperature

50–75°F

Humidity

50–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Giant Himalayan Lily?

Rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Giant Himalayan Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Giant Himalayan Lily?

Feed Giant Himalayan 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 Giant Himalayan 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 Giant Himalayan Lily?

Giant Himalayan Lily can be propagated through division of offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to chinese giant lily plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Giant Himalayan Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?

Toxic (caution)

Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.

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 Giant Himalayan Lily?

Giant Himalayan Lily is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. 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 Giant Himalayan Lily Need?

Giant Himalayan Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Giant Himalayan Lily is native to the Himalayas, China and Myanmar (Burma). In cooler regions, grow Giant Himalayan Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Giant Himalayan 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 Cardiocrinum genus — compare its care with other Cardiocrinum species on PlantoScan.

Cardiocrinum is part of the Liliaceae plant family — browse all Liliaceae genera and species.

Giant Himalayan 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: Cardiocrinum giganteum var. giganteum, family Liliaceae (first published in Unknown) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Giant Himalayan 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.

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