Ceylon Spider Lily Plant Care
Pancratium zeylanicum L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Pancratium zeylanicum, commonly known as the Javanese lily is a bulbous perennial herb native to Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Laccadive Islands, and the Philippines.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Ceylon Spider Lily?
Water Ceylon Spider Lily every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°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 Ceylon Spider Lily Native To?
What Is the Ceylon Spider Lily?
Ceylon Spider Lily (Pancratium zeylanicum) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Pancratium genus. Ceylon Spider Lily is native to Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Laccadive Islands, and the Philippines. Ceylon Spider Lily is also known as Zanzibar Spider Lily.
Ceylon Spider Lily displays a tall, upright perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Ceylon Spider Lily produces large white fragrant flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Ceylon Spider Lily?
Pancratium zeylanicum requires watering every 7–14 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 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Ceylon Spider Lily Need?
Ceylon Spider Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Ceylon Spider Lily Prefer?
Pancratium zeylanicum grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Ceylon Spider Lily prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Ceylon Spider Lily?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Ceylon Spider Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Ceylon Spider Lily?
Feed Ceylon Spider 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 Ceylon Spider 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 Ceylon Spider Lily?
Ceylon Spider Lily can be propagated through division of offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to canary island sea daffodil plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Ceylon Spider 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 skin irritation in humans
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 Ceylon Spider Lily?
Ceylon Spider Lily is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, thrips. 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 Ceylon Spider Lily Need?
Ceylon Spider Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Ceylon Spider Lily is native to Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Laccadive Islands, and the Philippines. In cooler regions, grow Ceylon Spider Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Ceylon Spider 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 Pancratium genus — compare its care with other Pancratium species on PlantoScan.
Pancratium is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
Ceylon Spider 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: Pancratium zeylanicum L., family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 290 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Ceylon Spider 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 13a, 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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