Renga renga lily
A hardy, clump-forming lily prized as a reliable groundcover for dry shade under trees - one of the few natives that genuinely thrives where little sun reaches. Masses of small white starry flowers appear on wispy stems over spring and summer. Very low-maintenance once established.
- Sun
- partial sun
- Water
- low
- Spacing
- 50cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 75cm
- Flowering season
- Oct, Nov, Dec
- Attracts wildlife
- Native bees
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common pests
- Slugs and snails
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-November.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentFirst few months
- Water while young to help the clump establish, even though this species copes with low water once settled
- Slugs and snails can target soft new foliage, especially in the damp shade this plant favours
Early growthFirst 1-2 years
- Continue checking for slugs and snails as the clump fills out under tree canopy or in dry shade
- Growth is steady rather than fast, so give it time to form a dense groundcover
FloweringOctober-December (November-December further south)
- Masses of small white starry flowers appear on wispy stems, drawing native bees
- Slugs and snails can also damage flower stems, so keep monitoring through this period
Maturity
- Very low-maintenance once established, coping well in dry shade where little else thrives
- Divide congested clumps to keep them vigorous and to spread the groundcover further