Madonna Lily Plant Care

Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum) belongs to the Liliaceae family within the Lilium genus. Madonna Lily is native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the Canary Islands, Mexico, and other regions. Madonna Lily is also known as White Lily, Annunciation Lily, St. Joseph's Lily.

Madonna Lily displays an upright, tall perennial growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Madonna Lily produces large, showy flowers in various colors like white, pink, orange, or red.

Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.

Lilium candidum requires watering every 4–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Madonna Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Lilium candidum grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Madonna Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, fertile soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Madonna Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Madonna 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.

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

Repot every 2-3 years in early spring after flowering. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

Madonna Lily can be propagated through division of bulbs, scales, or seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to orange lily plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Madonna Lily is susceptible to aphids, red lily beetles, slugs. 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.

Madonna Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Madonna Lily is native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the Canary Islands, Mexico, and other regions. In cooler regions, grow Madonna Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.