Practical
Plants

Dichopogon strictus

Chocolate Lily

a perennial member of the Dichopogon genus in the family Liliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Liliaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.9 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - raw or cooked[2][5]. It is usually sweet but can be bitter[5]. Several tubers up to 3.5cm long are produced by each plant, usually up to 15cm below the surface of the soil[5]. Flowers - raw. Chocolate scented[2].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Open forests and heathlands in sandy soils[3]. Also found in grassland[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It tolerates temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[4] but this cannot be translated directly to this country due to our cooler summers and longer, wetter and colder winters. It is likely to need protection when grown outdoors in Britain. Requires a sandy loam and leafmold[1]. Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position in Australian gardens[4]. The flowers have a delicious scent of chocolate[4][5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩

  4. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

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