Chilean Fire Lily Plant Care
Phycella cyrtanthoides (Sims) Lindl.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Phycella cyrtanthoides, the Añañuca de Fuego, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is a bulbous geophyte endemic to central Chile.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Chilean Fire Lily?
Water Chilean Fire 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 Chilean Fire Lily Native To?
What Is the Chilean Fire Lily?
Chilean Fire Lily (Phycella cyrtanthoides) belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family within the Phycella genus. Chilean Fire Lily is native to central Chile. Chilean Fire Lily is also known as Cyrtanthus-like Phycella.
Chilean Fire Lily displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Chilean Fire Lily produces tubular flowers in shades of red, orange, or pink.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Chilean Fire Lily?
Phycella cyrtanthoides 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 Chilean Fire Lily Need?
Chilean Fire Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Chilean Fire Lily Prefer?
Phycella cyrtanthoides grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Chilean Fire Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Chilean Fire Lily?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Chilean Fire Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Chilean Fire Lily?
Feed Chilean Fire 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 Chilean Fire 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 Chilean Fire Lily?
Chilean Fire Lily can be propagated through offsets, seeds.
Is the Chilean Fire 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 Chilean Fire Lily?
Chilean Fire 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 Chilean Fire Lily Need?
Chilean Fire Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Chilean Fire Lily is native to central Chile. In cooler regions, grow Chilean Fire Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Chilean Fire 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 Phycella genus — compare its care with other Phycella species on PlantoScan.
Phycella is part of the Amaryllidaceae plant family — browse all Amaryllidaceae genera and species.
Chilean Fire 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: Phycella cyrtanthoides (Sims) Lindl., family Amaryllidaceae (first published in Bot. Reg. 11: t. 928 (1825)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Chilean Fire 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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