Arthropodium fimbriatum
nodding chocolate lily
South-eastern and southern Australia
Overview
Arthropodium fimbriatum is a tufted perennial herb growing from fleshy, somewhat tuberous roots, with grass-like basal leaves 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) long and about 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) wide. Wiry, branched flowering stems rise 16-32 inches (40-80 cm), holding the flowers above the foliage on thread-like stalks. Each nodding flower is 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across with six mauve to purple tepals; the inner tepals carry fringed margins, and the central stamens have tufted, yellow-tipped filaments. Flowers open in succession along the branches over several weeks, each lasting about a day. A faint chocolate-like scent is detectable on warm days. The foliage dies back during dry summers or cold winters, and the plant regrows from its root system when conditions return. In drought the leaves wither early, shortening the flowering period.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern and southern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Grows in open eucalypt woodland, native grassland, and grassy slopes, often in seasonally dry, well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in native grassland gardens, rockeries, and the front of dry borders at 8-12 inch (20-30 cm) spacing. Suits naturalistic and water-conserving plantings where summer dormancy is acceptable. Grows in containers of at least 2 gallons (8 L) with free-draining mix, though clumps are longer-lived in open ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'4" - 2'8"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring and early summer, mainly September to December in southern Australia, with earlier flowering in warmer regions. Individual flowers last about one day, but each branched stem produces a succession of blooms over 4-6 weeks. Warm, sunny days bring the heaviest flower opening, and flowering tapers as soil dries in summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Mauve to purpleFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in light, well-drained soils and tolerates extended summer dryness once established. Water during autumn through spring to support leaf and flower growth, and reduce watering in summer when the plant naturally slows or dies back. Overly wet, poorly drained soil in summer can rot the fleshy roots. Plants set seed readily and may produce self-sown seedlings in open ground. Foliage may brown by midsummer in hot, dry sites, with regrowth in autumn. Snails can damage new leaves in wet weather.Pruning
Remove spent flowering stems after seed drop if self-seeding is not wanted, or leave them to allow natural seeding. Cut back browned foliage as the plant enters summer or winter dormancy. No other trimming is required, as growth renews from the root system each season.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons