How to Grow and Care for Aztec Lilies

How to Grow and Care for Aztec Lilies Sprekelia formosissima

Bursting with blood-red blooms as fiercely beautiful as the culture that it’s named after, the Aztec lily is the perfect flowering bulb for a warm, sunny landscape.

If you are in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11 and you’re racking your brain for a new flower to add to your garden, you should give Sprekelia formosissima a go!

Along with boosting your property’s aesthetic, Aztec lilies attract beneficial pollinators, which is always a plus.

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Tolerant of heat and salty soils, Aztec lilies aren’t too tricky to grow and care for, once you have ’em figured out. For some help with that, our guide has you covered.

Read on to learn the important aspects of S. formosissima cultivation, from propagation to pest management. It’ll be a helpful resource for your journey of discovery.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

Aztec lilies – aka Sprekelia formosissima or Jacobean lilies – are herbaceous, bulbous perennials from the Amaryllidaceae family, which also includes plants like amaryllis (Hippeastrum), onions, daffodils, and ornamental alliums.

In spite of their common name, Aztec lilies are not true lilies.

Aztec lilies originate from Mexico and Guatemala, where they grow wild on exposed outcrops and rocky slopes. As a result, they’ve evolved to flourish in heat, full sun, and rocky to sandy soils.

From the underground bulbs grow three to six skinny green leaves, each with a central crease and maximum length of 15 inches.

Mounted on stiff stalks up to a foot in height are six-inch crimson to scarlet red flowers, each with six curved petals and