Lily-of-the-Incas or Peruvian Lily is a herbaceous perennial that can be grown as an outdoor perennial in the more temperate climates, or as a container plant that can be brought in for the winter months. It can also be planted in the ground in cooler climates and dug up to be brought in during the winter and kept in a cool, moist location. Caution is recommended when digging, as the roots are very brittle and subject to damage. This plant dislikes dividing. When planting, spread the finger-like roots over a mound of soil, then cover roots with additional soil. When left in the ground, the roots will spread to form a colony. There are both tall and short (dwarf) varieties available. The tall selections, with their sturdy stems, are excellent for cut flowers, the short do well when container gardening, but may still need to be staked for support. There is a wide variety of colors to choose from, and often the petals are striated or flecked with contrasting colors. Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: There are few diseases and pest issues with these plants. If aphids, spider mites or whiteflies appear, it is probably due to over or under-watering. In that case, root rot may appear, and snails may affect the plants' overall health. Yellowing leaves may be an indication of under-watering. This plant can cause contact dermatitis in some people.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withAlstroemeria 'Casablanca'
Fills a similar nicheImpatiens hawkeriIris x germanicaSalvia rosmarinus
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb; Herbaceous Perennial; Poisonous
Life cycle
Bulb; Perennial
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Strap-like leaves that are narrowed at the base. The leaves are resupinate, twisted on the petioles so the underside faces upwards.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flower's colors vary from orange, pink, rose, purple, red, yellow, white, to salmon. Flowers are often streaked or spotted with dark colors. Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with 6 petal-like parts and long-lasting cut flowers.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem detail
This plant has erect stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Argentina, Chile
Wildlife value
Attracts birds and pollinators
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow
SKIN IRRITATION SEVERE! (All parts are poisonous). Poisonous through dermatitis or eye irritation. Symptoms may include skin irritation with fissures, crusting, blisters, and itching upon contact with cell sap.
Toxic principle
Glycosides (tuliposides) α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactones (tulipalin A)