Sandown Lily Plant Care

Sandown Lily (Romulea bulbocodium) belongs to the Iridaceae family within the Romulea genus. Sandown Lily is native to the Mediterranean region and Sudan. Sandown Lily is also known as Onion Lily, Spring Crocus.

Sandown Lily displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Sandown Lily produces small star-shaped flowers in various colors.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Sandown Lily every 7–10 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.

Sandown Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Romulea bulbocodium tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Sandown Lily prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

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

Feed Sandown 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 well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter like compost. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Sandown 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.

Sandown Lily can spread to about 1 ft (0.2 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.2 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 Sandown 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.

Sandown 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.

Sandown Lily can be propagated through by seeds or division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to columna's romulea plant care, which shares the same genus.

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

Sandown 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.

Sandown Lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Sandown Lily is native to the Mediterranean region and Sudan. In cooler regions, grow Sandown Lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.