Albuca spiralis
Spiral slime lily
- Height × spread
- 0.4m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This form of slime lily delights both for its flowers and its curious foliage - the only thing unattractive about it is its common name 'Slime Lily'. The slime lilies tend to have sticky stems - sometimes referred to as mucilaginous, presumably developed as a protection against predation. The flowers are green and creamy yellow, borne in numbers, having bent heads and flared petals that reveal the interior. They are not unlike the appearance of a snowdrop, except that the sweetly fragrant flowers, said to be scented of vanilla, are carried on longer stems. The flowers close at night. The leaves are linear and rounded and look like shiny green strands of plastic, curling and contorted and intriguing. These are spring flowering in the UK, but flower from August in the Cape province of South Africa where they originate.
- Flower colour
- Green, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.4m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- - 5C minimum temperature
- Use for
- Sensory garden (tactile)
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten; skin irritant
AutumnNow
Autumn-Winter · Indoors
Keep dry during dormancy
Keep dry during the period of dormancy or resting, which is likely to be from the middle of the autumn until spring.
Autumn - mid · Planting
Divide while dormant
Clumps of bulbs, corms or rhizomes can be divided when the plant is dormant. The divided bulbs or corms can immediately be replanted at a little distance from each other, or moved to other locations.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based houseplant compost for repotting
Buy container or house plant compost that is loam based if possible (i.e. is based on John Innes compost number 2 or 3. This contains more fertiliser and is better suited to established plants.
John Innes no. 1 has the lowest level of fertiliser and is used for seedlings and young plants, so is generally used where plants will be 'potted on' after a number of weeks.
Indoor temperature · Planting
-5C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of -5 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).