African Corn Lily Plant Care
Chasmanthe aethiopica (L.) N.E.Br.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Chasmanthe aethiopica, the cobra lily, is a perennial plant and geophyte belonging to the genus Chasmanthe and is part of the fynbos. The plant is endemic to the Eastern and Western Cape.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for African Corn Lily?
Water African Corn 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 40–70% 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 African Corn Lily Native To?
What Is the African Corn Lily?
African Corn Lily (Chasmanthe aethiopica) belongs to the Iridaceae family within the Chasmanthe genus. African Corn Lily is native to the Eastern and Western Cape. African Corn Lily is also known as Cobra Lily.
African Corn Lily displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. African Corn Lily produces tubular flowers in shades of orange and yellow.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a African Corn Lily?
Chasmanthe aethiopica 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 African Corn Lily Need?
African Corn Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the African Corn Lily Prefer?
Chasmanthe aethiopica grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. African Corn Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a African Corn Lily?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for African Corn Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a African Corn Lily?
Feed African Corn 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 African Corn 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 African Corn Lily?
African Corn Lily can be propagated through division of offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bicolor chasmanthe plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the African Corn 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 African Corn Lily?
African Corn 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 African Corn Lily Need?
African Corn Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. African Corn Lily is native to the Eastern and Western Cape. In cooler regions, grow African Corn Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
African Corn 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 Chasmanthe genus — compare its care with other Chasmanthe species on PlantoScan.
Chasmanthe is part of the Iridaceae plant family — browse all Iridaceae genera and species.
African Corn 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: Chasmanthe aethiopica (L.) N.E.Br., family Iridaceae (first published in Trans. Roy. Soc. South Africa 20: 273 (1932)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: African Corn 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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