Over the years, the Giant Spear Lily forms a huge rosette of oversized leaves, each of which can reach 12 feet long and 9 inches wide.  The flower spikes, which appear from winter through summer, get so heavy they arch downwards.  The flower stalks in the photos are between 9 and 11 feet long!  The big blooms are 5 inches long and are a brilliant red, attracting all sorts of birds.  This is a slow-growing but very long-lived species.  A colony can live 100 years or more.

The Giant Spear Lily comes from coastal Queensland and New South Wales in Australia, where temperatures are mild year-round. It's possible that it won't thrive in areas that regularly get over 85 degrees F (29°C), particularly if nights are warm. It does best when protected from frost, but it is said to take 5 or 10 degrees of frost (-4°C), with new growth sprouting from the roots.  It enjoys sun, although it might need some afternoon shade in strong, hot sun.  It can be grown in a pot the first few years, and moved indoors if necessary.  It likes well-draining soil and regular watering. Be patient with the Giant Spear Lily, as it will take 10-13 years to reach flowering size.

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