How to Care for Desert Lilies at Home

Desert lilies, or Hesperocallis undulata, as they are known by their scientific name, are delicate, white flowers made even lovelier by their desolate and sandy surroundings when someone happens upon them in the desert. They grow best in zone 9 as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness scale, which includes areas, such as Arizona, Nevada and California. Desert lilies can tolerate slightly colder temperatures, but should be grown in an area that remains free of frost or indoors.

Planting pots
Sandy soil
Watering Can
Manure
Flowering plant fertilizer
Mulch or leaf litter

Instructions

- 1
  Plant desert lily bulbs 1 foot to 2 feet below loose, sandy, well-drained soil or in a deep pot filled with a sandy soil. Make sure the plant is placed in an area of the garden that gets full sunshine all day long. When planting multiple bulbs in a row, leave at least 6 inches space between them.
- 2
  Water the flower during the spring growing season, making sure to keep the soil moist. During the summer, water the plant sparingly; it is a hardy plant and can survive well with little water. Do not water the flower in the winter at all; it does not need it during its dormant seasons.
- 3
  Lay mulch or leaf litter around the base of the plant during the colder winter months to help insulate against the cold weather. In areas with warmer winters, this is not needed.
- 4
  Fertilize the lily with manure at the end of the winter, digging it into the soil around the plant, while carefully avoiding the roots or damaging the stems. Water will pull the manure nutrients down through the sandy soil. Use a flowering plant fertilizer every 20 to 25 days during the peak growing season mixed in with the water.

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