How to Grow Giant Chincherinchee
Ornithogalum saundersiae
Giant Chincherinchee is a dramatic South African bulb producing towering stems up to 1.5m tall, topped with large dome-shaped clusters of white flowers with distinctive dark green-black centres in midsummer. Plant bulbs in full sun and sharply drained soil in spring after frosts. In UK gardens it is tender and must be lifted and stored frost-free over winter, or grown in large containers that can be brought under cover. Outstanding as a cut flower with exceptional vase life.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks from when growth emerges in spring until flower stems appear. Switch to a high-potash feed as buds develop to promote flowering.
Watch For
- Bulb rot in poorly drained or waterlogged soil
- Slugs on emerging shoots in spring
- Aphids on flower stems and buds
- Failure to flower if bulbs are not lifted and stored properly over winter
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun essential
Giant Chincherinchee requires maximum sun to ripen the bulbs and produce the tall flowering stems. A warm, south-facing position is ideal. Plants in shade produce weak, floppy stems and poor flowering.
Watering
Regular watering during active growth, reduce as foliage dies back
Water regularly from planting through to when the flower stems emerge and bloom. Reduce watering as the foliage begins to die back in late summer before lifting. Avoid waterlogging at all times — bulbs rot rapidly in wet conditions.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed in spring, switch to high-potash as buds develop
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks from emergence until flower buds appear. Then switch to a high-potash tomato-type feed to encourage the best flowering display.
Overwintering
Tender — lift and store frost-free each autumn
Ornithogalum saundersiae is not frost-hardy. After the first autumn frost cuts down the foliage, lift bulbs carefully, allow to dry for a week, then store in dry compost or paper bags at 5-10 degrees C. Replant the following spring after frost risk has passed.
Growing Tips
Plant in spring after all frost risk has passed
Giant Chincherinchee is fully tender. Plant bulbs outdoors only once soil has warmed and there is no risk of frost — typically late April to May in the UK. In containers, start indoors in March for earlier flowers.
Full sun and perfect drainage are non-negotiable
These South African bulbs come from well-drained, sunny hillsides. Waterlogged soil causes bulb rot before they ever flower. On heavy clay, plant in raised beds or large containers with extra grit.
Lift and store every autumn
After the first frost, cut stems to 10 cm, carefully lift bulbs, allow to dry for a week, and store in dry compost or paper bags in a cool, frost-free place (5-10 degrees C). Do not store in plastic — they will rot.
Outstanding cut flower
Cut stems when the lowest third of the florets on the spike are open. Flowers last two to three weeks in a vase. Remove lower leaves that would sit in water to prolong vase life.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Irregular holes and slime trails on emerging shoots and lower leaves in spring.
- Apply organic slug pellets (ferric phosphate) around emerging shoots.
- Use sharp grit or crushed eggshells as a physical barrier around bulbs.
- Ferric phosphate-based slug pellets are effective and wildlife-safe.
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of small insects on flower stems and buds causing distorted growth and sticky honeydew deposits.
- Blast off with a strong jet of water.
- Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds and lacewings.
- Spray with a contact insecticide containing pyrethrin if infestation is severe.
Disease Bulb Rot
Symptoms: Bulbs become soft and discoloured with fungal growth at the base. Plants fail to emerge or collapse at soil level.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected bulbs. Do not replant in the same soil.
Prevention: Ensure sharp drainage. Never waterlog bulbs. Store lifted bulbs in dry conditions with good airflow.
Disease Grey Mould (Botrytis) Botrytis cinerea
Symptoms: Fuzzy grey mould on stems or flower heads, especially in cool wet conditions.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected parts promptly. Improve air circulation around plants.
Prevention: Avoid overcrowding, ensure good drainage, and remove spent flower stems promptly.
