Anthericum Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners

Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 21st Nov 2023

In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Anthericum plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.

Spider Plant and Saint Bernard's Lily: Cultivation & Garden Use

Hardy perennial Anthericum plants typically flowers in the spring. They are related to Asparagus and belong to the Asparagaceae family.

Spider plants are upright plants that typically grows to between 45–90 cm (1.5 to 3 feet) in height.

Anthericum ramosum (Graslelie) photograph by Westher.

They have trumpet like flowers of white on long stems, and grassy leaves.

They make great border plants and are ideal for ‘natural’ looking gardens.

Anthericum Plant Species

Anthericum liliago - St. Bernard's Lily

Anthericum liliago is a perennial. It grows to about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. St. Bernard's Lily has narrow, grass-like leaves and star-shaped white flowers.

This plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It's perfect for beds, borders, or naturalized areas.

Anthericum ramosum - Branched St. Bernard's Lily

Anthericum ramosum is a hardy perennial. It reaches a height of approximately 3 feet 3 inches (1 meter). It produces clusters of starry white flowers above grass-like leaves.

Anthericum ramosum photograph by Ettore Balocchi.

Branched St. Bernard's Lily grows best in full sun with well-drained soil. It adds charm to borders, rock gardens, or wildflower gardens.

Anthericum saundersiae - Cape Rush Lily

Anthericum saundersiae is a perennial. It grows up to 24 inches (60 cm) tall. It has grass-like leaves and clusters of white flowers.

It loves full sun and well-drained soil. Cape Rush Lily is ideal for rock gardens, borders, and containers.

Anthericum azureum - Blue Anthericum

Anthericum azureum is a perennial plant. It grows to 2 feet 4 inches (70 cm) tall. Blue Anthericum bears grass-like foliage and clusters of blue flowers.

This plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It makes a great addition to beds, borders, or container gardens.

How to Grow Anthericum

It is best to sow the seeds of Anthericum species such as Spider plant and St. Bernard's lily just below the soil surface at a depth of about half a centimeter, with a spacing of approximately fifteen to twenty centimeters.

Plants are best sown out in the early spring when a frost is still possible.

St. Bernard’s lily prefers to be grown in partly shaded conditions.

The soil type is not important, but it should have lots of organic matter added to it and kept moist.

When starting Anthericum off from seed indoors, the seeds will take around one to three months to germinate.

The seeds should be imbibed by soaking water for half a day then kept at a temperature of around 10 degrees Celsius.

Seedlings can be planted out in either the spring or autumn.

Caring for Anthericum

Anthericum are fairly easy to care for, and generally takes thee years to flower after being started from seed.

Ideally they should be fed in the spring, and watered throughout the summer. In extremely hot summers the plants should be cut back following flowering.

Common Questions

How many members does the Anthericum genus have?

The Anthericum genus consists of about 65 species, most notably the St. Bernard's Lily (Anthericum liliago).

Do members of Anthericum make a good garden or landscaping plant?

Yes, plants like the St. Bernard's Lily are loved for their slender, grass-like leaves and delicate white flowers, ideal for borders or rock gardens.

Which Anthericum species are most frequently grown by gardeners?

The St. Bernard's Lily (Anthericum liliago) and Spider plant (Anthericum ramosum) are often grown for their attractive foliage and flowers.

Are members of the Anthericum plant genus fragrant?

No, Anthericum species are not typically known to be fragrant.

What is the perfect location to grow Anthericum?

Anthericum plants prefer full sun or partial shade, and a well-drained, fertile soil. They are somewhat drought-tolerant once established.

Is Anthericum invasive in the USA, if so in which states?

Anthericum is not thought to be invasive in the USA.

How do I remove Anthericum plants from my garden?

To remove Anthericum, pull out the entire plant including the roots. It's best done when the soil is moist to ensure complete removal.

Summary

The Anthericum genus, part of the Asparagaceae family, contains about 65 species of perennials. These plants, native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, are known for their grass-like foliage and star-shaped white flowers. The most commonly grown species is Anthericum liliago, also known as St. Bernard's Lily.

Anthericum plants prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They are drought tolerant once established and can handle poor soils. These plants make an excellent choice for borders, rock gardens, or naturalistic plantings. After flowering, they produce interesting seed heads which add interest to the garden even after the blooms have faded.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on Anthericum. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Brimeura and Ornithogalum nutans plants.