Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata

Introducing the Veltheimia bracteata, known as forest lily, which is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the family Asparagaceae. Native to the Western Cape region of South Africa, it gets its name forest lily because it is often found growing in the shady understory of forests. It is also known as the Cape Lily plant or Unicorn root.  

The forest lily plant can grow as an evergreen plant in frost-free areas with consistent rainfall throughout the year. The plant can grow up to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide.

A South African semi-deciduous winter bulb produces glossy green leaves with wavy margins. The leaves are long and strap-like, and the flowers are clustered on a tall stalk. 


The Veltheimia bracteata bulb blooms in the winter and is actively growing during the cold months, and its blossoms appear in late winter or early spring.

The flowers are usually pink or reddish in color and have a trumpet-like shape.

After flowering, when regrowth begins, the plant will go dormant for some time.

In late summer and early autumn, new leaves will emerge.

Before it blooms, the buds stand upright.

They will continue to arch outward as they grow.  When the buds open, they'll be pointing down.

When it comes to Veletheimias bracteate care, it is a drought-tolerant plant that can be grown in light shade and is ideal for shade gardens. It can be nearly evergreen in the summer but will rot if the soil doesn't drain well. To grow, allow the soil to dry out in the summer, with new foliage emerging in the fall. During summer dormancy, the soil should be kept dry, and watering should be resumed when new growth is visible.  

The forest lily plant is easy to grow outdoors in shaded areas in USDA zones 9-11, with occasional to infrequent irrigation in the Mediterranean climate.  However, the New York Botanical Garden Encyclopedia of Horticulture recommends growing it indoors in other climates, ensuring a temperature between 50 and 55° F from fall to spring. If you live in a colder region, you can grow it as a houseplant or in a greenhouse. 

When it comes to propagation, the forest lily can be propagated through offsets or bulb division. You can separate the offsets from the parent plant and plant them in a well-draining potting mix. It may take a couple of years for the new plants to reach maturity and start blooming. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to add something truly exceptional to your garden. Order your very own forest lily Veltheimia bracteate for sale today! 

Bloom Season Late winter, early winter
Botanical Name Veltheimia bracteata
Common Name Forest Lily, Cape Lily Plant
Dormancy Early Summer
Family Asparagaceae
Flower Color Pink, reddish
Genus Veltheimia
Growth Habit Bulbous flowering plant
Growth Rate Moderate to Fast
Hardiness Zone 9, 10, 11
Mature Size 1 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide
Native Area South Africa
Plant Type Flowering Plant
Propagation By offsets, bulb division
Resistance Extremely drought-tolerant, deer resistance, heat tolerant
Soil PH 6.5, Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type Succulents potting mix soil
Special Features Easy to grow
Sun Exposure Full sun (6+ hrs.), Partial shade (3–6 hrs. sun)
Toxicity Mildly toxic for humans, mildly toxic for pets
Watering Needs Low
Back To Plant Description Main Page

Growers Quick Reference Guide - Key Features

Bloom Season Late winter, early winter
Botanical Name Veltheimia bracteata
Common Name Forest Lily, Cape Lily Plant
Dormancy Early Summer
Family Asparagaceae
Flower Color Pink, reddish
Genus Veltheimia
Growth Habit Bulbous flowering plant
Growth Rate Moderate to Fast
Hardiness Zone 9, 10, 11
Mature Size 1 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide
Native Area South Africa
Plant Type Flowering Plant
Propagation By offsets, bulb division
Resistance Extremely drought-tolerant, deer resistance, heat tolerant
Soil PH 6.5, Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type Succulents potting mix soil
Special Features Easy to grow
Sun Exposure Full sun (6+ hrs.), Partial shade (3–6 hrs. sun)
Toxicity Mildly toxic for humans, mildly toxic for pets
Watering Needs Low

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Forest Lily - Veltheimia bracteata

sku: 2842

Regular price$ 26.50
/

Free Shipping on all orders over $89*

Size
Height:
Diameter:

Please note: All Landscape Ready plants that are in a 6-inch pot or larger WILL NOT come with a pot as it will be shipped bare root.

Please note: Our large plants are many years old, and as a result, they might have minor scaring but will arrive 100% healthy and looking great.

Please note: Our large plants are shipped bare root. They are also many years old, and as a result, they might have minor scaring but will arrive healthy and looking great.

Please note: All perennial drought tolerant plants 6 inch and larger plants will be shipped bare root. Before sending perennial plants, we often trim the leafy parts and remove flowers or buds. This helps them survive shipping and adjust to transplanting better.
Perennial plants shipped Mon - Wed only.

Please note: Perennial plants shipped Mon - Wed only.

sku:
Detailed description of this plant is below...
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way

If you live in a cold climate and are expecting temperatures below 40 degrees within the next five days after placing your order, we highly recommend adding a heat pack to your order. If you do not order a heat pack, we do not send one with your order.

BUY HEAT PACKS HERE

**FREE HEAT PACK WITH ORDERS OVER $50 before taxes and shipping- BY REQUEST ONLY, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE ON YOUR ORDER.

To prevent plants from freezing while in transit, orders placed for areas with extreme severe freezing temperatures will be held for shipment until it is safe to ship.

We guarantee our premium plants will arrive happy and healthy. If not we will replace them for free.

What makes us different is the passion for highest quality plants and the attention to the detail on all we do here at Planet Desert. We are confident in the quality of our products. That’s why all our plants have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product and get a product refund or exchange the product for another one, be it similar or not. Shipping charges may apply.

You can return a product for up to 14 days from the date you purchased it. Please submit photos with your order number to info@planetdesert.com to initiate this request and receive next steps for processing. Shipping fees may apply.

Any product you return must be in the same condition you received it and in the original packaging. Please keep the receipt.

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $69 in the Continental US.

Any plant that is 6" and larger that is not in our Houseplant category will be shipped bare root (without a pot).

What makes us different is the passion and the attention to detail in all we do here at Planet Desert. We are confident in the quality of our products. That’s why all our plants have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product and get a refund or exchange it for another one — similar or not. Shipping charges may apply.

You can return a product for up to 14 days from the date of purchase. Please submit photos with your order number to info@planetdesert.com to initiate your return. Shipping fees may apply.

  • First, lucky them! Second, in the cart — before checkout you’ll find an option to add a custom Greeting Card.
  • Click the Custom Greeting Card button to browse and select the design you like best. We have gift cards for most occasions.
  • After selecting your greeting card, scroll to the bottom of the cart. There you'll see a dropdown labeled Add a note to your order.
  • Use that note box to enter the message you’d like us to include with your gift. We’ll make sure it’s printed and packed with care!
  • Description
  • Key Plant Features

Introducing the Veltheimia bracteata, known as forest lily, which is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the family Asparagaceae. Native to the Western Cape region of South Africa, it gets its name forest lily because it is often found growing in the shady understory of forests. It is also known as the Cape Lily plant or Unicorn root.  

The forest lily plant can grow as an evergreen plant in frost-free areas with consistent rainfall throughout the year. The plant can grow up to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide.

A South African semi-deciduous winter bulb produces glossy green leaves with wavy margins. The leaves are long and strap-like, and the flowers are clustered on a tall stalk. 


The Veltheimia bracteata bulb blooms in the winter and is actively growing during the cold months, and its blossoms appear in late winter or early spring.

The flowers are usually pink or reddish in color and have a trumpet-like shape.

After flowering, when regrowth begins, the plant will go dormant for some time.

In late summer and early autumn, new leaves will emerge.

Before it blooms, the buds stand upright.

They will continue to arch outward as they grow.  When the buds open, they'll be pointing down.

When it comes to Veletheimias bracteate care, it is a drought-tolerant plant that can be grown in light shade and is ideal for shade gardens. It can be nearly evergreen in the summer but will rot if the soil doesn't drain well. To grow, allow the soil to dry out in the summer, with new foliage emerging in the fall. During summer dormancy, the soil should be kept dry, and watering should be resumed when new growth is visible.  

The forest lily plant is easy to grow outdoors in shaded areas in USDA zones 9-11, with occasional to infrequent irrigation in the Mediterranean climate.  However, the New York Botanical Garden Encyclopedia of Horticulture recommends growing it indoors in other climates, ensuring a temperature between 50 and 55° F from fall to spring. If you live in a colder region, you can grow it as a houseplant or in a greenhouse. 

When it comes to propagation, the forest lily can be propagated through offsets or bulb division. You can separate the offsets from the parent plant and plant them in a well-draining potting mix. It may take a couple of years for the new plants to reach maturity and start blooming. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to add something truly exceptional to your garden. Order your very own forest lily Veltheimia bracteate for sale today! 

Bloom Season Late winter, early winter
Botanical Name Veltheimia bracteata
Common Name Forest Lily, Cape Lily Plant
Dormancy Early Summer
Family Asparagaceae
Flower Color Pink, reddish
Genus Veltheimia
Growth Habit Bulbous flowering plant
Growth Rate Moderate to Fast
Hardiness Zone 9, 10, 11
Mature Size 1 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide
Native Area South Africa
Plant Type Flowering Plant
Propagation By offsets, bulb division
Resistance Extremely drought-tolerant, deer resistance, heat tolerant
Soil PH 6.5, Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type Succulents potting mix soil
Special Features Easy to grow
Sun Exposure Full sun (6+ hrs.), Partial shade (3–6 hrs. sun)
Toxicity Mildly toxic for humans, mildly toxic for pets
Watering Needs Low

Growers Quick Reference Guide - Key Features

Bloom Season Late winter, early winter
Botanical Name Veltheimia bracteata
Common Name Forest Lily, Cape Lily Plant
Dormancy Early Summer
Family Asparagaceae
Flower Color Pink, reddish
Genus Veltheimia
Growth Habit Bulbous flowering plant
Growth Rate Moderate to Fast
Hardiness Zone 9, 10, 11
Mature Size 1 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide
Native Area South Africa
Plant Type Flowering Plant
Propagation By offsets, bulb division
Resistance Extremely drought-tolerant, deer resistance, heat tolerant
Soil PH 6.5, Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type Succulents potting mix soil
Special Features Easy to grow
Sun Exposure Full sun (6+ hrs.), Partial shade (3–6 hrs. sun)
Toxicity Mildly toxic for humans, mildly toxic for pets
Watering Needs Low

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.