Journey to the Poor Knights Islands

Four million years ago, a volcano created some small islands off the coast of New Zealand. Captain Cook discovered the islands in 1760 and named them the Poor Knights Islands. Separated from the mainland for millions of years, the islands developed unique plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. A beautiful example of this is the Poor Knights Lily - Xeronema callistemon.

Xeronema (pronounced Zer-oh-NEM-uh) has unusual bottlebrush flower clusters that grow horizontally, looking like a giant red toothbrush. The flower stalk starts out vertical and then take a curious turn sideways. Stunning red flowers emerge straight up from the stalk, tipped with bright orange pollen. The total length of the flowering portion averages 7 to 10 inches, although it can potentially get to 18 inches.

It's illegal to land on the Poor Knights Islands, which are now a protected reserve. This makes Xeronema an extremely rare species that few people grow in the United States. I'm happy to offer it to collectors or anyone who wants a challenging but rewarding plant.

Xeronema grows about 3 feet tall and forms a colony 6 feet wide, looking somewhat like an Iris or Phormium when not in bloom. Even without blooms, it is a gorgeous plant, with perfectly smooth, durable, strap-like leaves that almost feel succulent. In my opinion, it has one of the best foliage of any Lily family plant. Each leaf has a mysterious curved notch at the base where it touches the next leaf. This is a spring-blooming plant, usually flowering around May here in California.

The temperature on the Poor Knights Islands is moderate and stable throughout the year. It rarely gets above 80 degrees or below 40 (4-27°C). It has handled temperatures in the upper 80's in cultivation (31°C) but this plant should be considered experimental in warmer areas, particularly if nights are warm. It can probably take a few hours of light frost, but i would protect it from all frost. In California, it thrives within a few miles of the Pacific. Elsewhere, it's best to grow it in a container and move it to a protected spot in winter. It grows well indoors, if the air isn't too dry. Xeronema prefers mostly-sunny conditions, but give it some afternoon shade in warmer climates. It does best in fast-draining soil, with regular, light waterings. It grows slowly but steadily, putting out new offshoots periodically, which may be separated.

More growing tips are here.

Click here to check availability.