Grow Sprekelia in full sun and soil that drains. Aztec lily is the shop name for this Mexican bulb. The plant sold as amaryllis is usually a holiday Hippeastrum, not this orchid-like crimson flower.
Give it full sun, soil that drains, and a dry rest after bloom
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun so the crimson flower opens | Do not site it in shade that thins the bloom |
| Water | Keep the mix moist while the leaves are up; stop once they yellow | Do not water a dormant bulb as if it were a lawn |
| Soil | Sandy or loam that drains after rain, even if it is a little alkaline | Do not plant it in a soggy clay pocket |
| Deer | Deer usually leave the foliage | Do not treat one bulb as a guaranteed deer-proof bed |
| After bloom | Leave the strap leaves until they brown | Do not cut the leaves while they are still green |
Aztec lily is Sprekelia formosissima, a Mexican bulb in the amaryllis family. Strap leaves rise with, or just before, one crimson flower that looks more like an orchid than a holiday trumpet. Give it the hottest sun you have and soil that drains, and keep the mix moist only while those leaves are up, because wet soil around a dormant bulb is the primary cause of rot. [1] [2] The flower is usually a single bloom on a stem about a foot tall. Set garden bulbs on Planting Sprekelia. To keep a pot you can carry indoors, continue on Sprekelia in Pots. [3] [4]
Does Sprekelia need full sun?
Yes. Plant it in full sun so the crimson flower opens. Shade thins the bloom and keeps the leaves weak.
Should I water it after the leaves yellow?
No. Once the leaves have yellowed, keep the bulbs dry. Winter wet is the usual cause of bulb rot.
Leave the leaves until they brown, then stop watering
After the flower fades, the strap leaves still feed the bulb. Cut only the spent flower stem if you want the bed tidy, and leave those leaves in place until they yellow and brown on their own. Then stop watering, so the bulb can rest dry through winter.
- After the flower fades, cut the spent flower stem if you want the bed tidy.
- Leave the strap leaves until they yellow and brown.
- Stop watering once the leaves have browned.
Do I cut the leaves after bloom?
No. Leave the leaves until they brown. Green leaves still store food in the bulb for next year.
Not holiday amaryllis — and not a rain lily or a true lily
A shop search for amaryllis usually means Hippeastrum, the large holiday trumpet on a hollow stalk, not this orchid-like crimson flower. See How to Grow Amaryllis. Some lists now file this plant as Zephyranthes formosissima; it is still not the small rain lily that opens after a summer soak. That care lives on How to Grow Rain Lily. Aztec lily is also not a true lily — those are Lilium, with many flowers on a leafy stem; see How to Grow Lilies. Confirm Sprekelia on the Latin.
Is this the same as amaryllis?
No. Holiday amaryllis is Hippeastrum, a large trumpet bulb. Sprekelia is a Mexican bulb with one orchid-like crimson flower. Shops may still print Amaryllis formosissima on the tag.
Is this a rain lily?
No. Rain lilies are the smaller Zephyranthes that flush after a soak. Sprekelia is a larger crimson flower with strap leaves, even if some lists now use a Zephyranthes name.
If the leaves have yellowed, stop watering and leave the spot marked — or lift the bulbs and store them dry until you plant again.
FAQ
Is there more than one kind?
This catalog holds Sprekelia formosissima, the Aztec lily with one crimson flower. Other shop names such as Superba or Orient Red, and the smaller howardii, use the same sun, drain, and dry rest.
Can I cut the stems for a vase?
Yes. Cut a flowering stem if you want it indoors. Leave the strap leaves in the bed until they brown, so the bulb can store food for next year.
Is this the Gloriosa fire lily?
No. Mexican fire lily is a shop name for Sprekelia. Gloriosa is the climbing lily with reflexed red-and-yellow flowers; see How to Grow Climbing Lily.
Are Superba or Orient Red in this catalog?
No. This catalog holds Sprekelia formosissima. Superba, Orient Red, and Early Riser are other shop selections, not a second card here.
Will a pet get sick if it chews the bulb?
Keep pets from chewing the bulb or the leaves. It is not a true lily, so do not treat it as the same kidney poison as Lilium, but amaryllis-family bulbs can still make a pet sick. Call a vet if they chew one.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/aztec-lily-sprekelia-formosissima/ - [2] Missouri Botanical Garden -
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?isprofile=0&taxonid=275850 - [3] Pacific Bulb Society -
https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Sprekelia - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/zephyranthes-formosissima/
This note is part of Sprekelia Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors