Rock-lily
Arthropodium cirrhatum
Family: Asphodelaceae
What it is like
Arthropodium cirrhatum is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Rocky cliffs near the sea, often in colonies, on North and South Islands north of latitude 42° 30´s
New Zealand
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Rhizome - cooked.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Prefers a well-drained sandy peaty loam in a warm, sheltered sunny position. Grows best in a rich leafy soil. Plants are not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c. They can succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain, but they are best grown in a cold greenhouse in this country. A polymorphic species. This plant was possibly formerly cultivated for its edible root by the Maoris, the root grows larger under cultivation.
Propagating it: Seed - sow late winter in a cold greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 7-10
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist