Cornish lily

About Cornish lily

Cape Flower is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is drought tolerant but requires moisture during the growing season. It grows to 2 feet tall with strap-shaped leaves and large umbels of lily-like pink flowers in the fall.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Nerine bowdenii

Genus

Nerine

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Order

Asparagales

Also known as

Cornish lily, Cape flower, Guernsey lily and Bowden lily

How to care for Cornish lily

💦 Water

How often to water your Cornish lily

Cornish lily needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Cornish lily in your home

Cornish lily love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Cornish lily does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cornish lily in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cornish lily

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Cornish lily: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Cornish lily after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Cornish lily is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Cornish lily →

Benefits of Growing Cornish lily →

Common Cornish lily Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Cornish lily →

Outdoor Care Guide for Cornish lily →

💦 Water Needs

Cornish lily prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Cornish lily Water Frequency →

Cornish lily Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cornish lily requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Cornish lily Light Requirements →

Cornish lily Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Cornish lily is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Cornish lily is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

🪴 Soil

Cornish lily does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Cornish lily →

Best Pots for Cornish lily →

When and How to Successfully Repot Cornish lily →

What Are Healthy Cornish lily Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Cornish lily should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Cornish lily →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Cornish lily grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Cornish lily Lifecycle →

Cornish lily Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Cornish lily →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Cornish lily can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Cornish lily Temperature Tolerance →

Cornish lily Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Cornish lily →

When to Plant Cornish lily →

How to Plant Cornish lily →

Where to Plant Cornish lily →

Winter Care for Cornish lily →

Best Companion Plants for Cornish lily →

Is Cornish lily a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Cornish lily can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Cornish lily →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Cornish lily, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.