Originally confused with the genus Lilium , it was later considered to be a distinct genus. Unlike other members of the lily family (Liliaceae), it has heart-shaped leaves. The genus name references these distinctive leaves. It is compounded from the Greek word kardia meaning heart, and krinon meaning lily. There are three species all native to the eastern Asia and Japan. They are C.giganteum , which is the most familiar of the species, C.cordatum, and C.cathayanum. The latter two are less commonly seen in cultivation. The giant Himalayan lily can reach a height of up to 9 feet. Its showy, creamy white flowers with a reddish-purple center give off a sweet scent. C. cordatum is found in mountainous locations that are cool and moist. C. cathayanum has bronze to purple new foliage, that will age to a lime green. These plants can be challenging to grow, as the moist montane conditions of its native habitat are difficult to mimic in cultivation. It should be planted in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil in partial shade. It is intolerant of hot, sunny locations, where the leaves are susceptible to burning. Propagation by seeds is typical. Fresh seeds have underdeveloped embryos that require repeated cycles of alternating cold and warmth (stratification) before being able to germinate. Flowering may not occur until the bulb has been in its location for up to eight years, and moving plants or bulbs can set plants back, requiring even more time to establish. Propagation by bulb offsets is also common. Offsets can take several years to flower. Plant to a depth of 1 inch, as the bulbs usually form at the soil surface. Plant in the fall months. Hardiness: Semi-hardy, injured below 28 degrees F. Storage: Store bulbs in moist peat at 35 degrees F. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs are common visitors to this plant. Locations with poor drainage can lead to bulb rot. Mice sometimes chew on immature bulbs. It has a resistance to verticillium wilt.
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.