New Zealand Lily Plant Care

New Zealand Lily (Herpolirion novae-zelandiae) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family within the Herpolirion genus. New Zealand Lily is native to New Zealand as well as the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia.

New Zealand Lily displays a low rosette, clumping habit growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. New Zealand Lily produces small, star-shaped white flowers in clusters on tall stalks.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted New Zealand Lily every 10–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

New Zealand Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Herpolirion novae-zelandiae tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. New Zealand Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Sandy, well-draining soil mix with added perlite and gravel for good drainage. Good drainage is essential for New Zealand Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed New Zealand Lily every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and sandy, well-draining soil mix with added perlite and gravel for good drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

New Zealand Lily is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

New Zealand Lily can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune New Zealand Lily while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

New Zealand Lily is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

New Zealand Lily can be propagated through division of offsets, seeds.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

New Zealand Lily is susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects. 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.

New Zealand Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. New Zealand Lily is native to New Zealand as well as the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia. In cooler regions, grow New Zealand Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.