Garden Plants in Profile: Lilies (Lilium)

Lilium or Lilies as they are more commonly known are a genus of herbaceous flowering plants that are commonly grown by gardeners from bulbs. It is estimated that there are around 110 different species within the genus or lily family known as the Liliaceae. The name Lilium is a Latin form derived from the Greek word Leirion, a word which is generally associated with the Madonna lily or Lilium Candidum.

Lilies can be found across the globe in Europe, the North Mediterranean, Asia, India and throughout North America. Most lily species prefer moderately acidic or lime-free soils although many of the more modern hybrids are much more lime tolerant. Nearly all lilies prefer to have their feet in the shade but heads in the sun and come in all sizes and colours except blue.

Lilies typically have 3 flower forms or shapes; Bowl shaped, Trumpet shaped or Turk’s Cap shaped.

• Bowl Shaped – Petals flare open to produce a wide bowl and the flowers are usually very large.
• Trumpet Shaped – Petals are grouped together for part of the length of the flower to produce a basale tube.
• Turk’s-Cap Shaped – Petals are rolled and swept back and are usually small flowers.

If you have decided to grow lilies then your best option is to try and grow them from bulb first as they can be particularly difficult to grow from seed if you are a beginner. When buying lily bulbs it is important to remember than unlike most other garden plant varieties lily bulbs have no protective outer skin which means they cannot be stored but instead be planted out straight away.

Many species are widely grown in the garden in temperate and sub-tropical regions. Sometimes they may also be grown as potted plants. A large number of ornamental hybrids have been developed. They can be used in herbaceous borders, woodland and shrub plantings, and as a patio plant.

Planting Lilies in the Garden

Lily bulbs can be planted from late summer right through until early spring in well-drained soil that is frost free, however, most lily varieties will do just fine in regular soil types. If your soil is light then prepare it by enriching it with organic matter and lighten heavy soil with peat or coarse sand. Most garden variety lilies prefer sunny sites but will tolerate light shade throughout the course of the day.

As lilies are stem-rooting and produce roots on the stem above the bulb as well as at the base you should try to give the lower parts of the plants some shade from low-growing perennials or shrubs. Try not to plant lilies in exposed areas as tall growing varieties may require some wind shelter. Nearly all modern Lily hybrids will tolerate soil with some lime content.

It is very important that you do not let lilies dry out during the summer months so ensure that you water them thoroughly during extremely dry weather. Taller varieties should be staked before reaching 3ft and fed with a liquid fertilizer occasionally. When the time comes for dead-heading, nip off any faded flowers before the seeds are able to form as this will ensure that the plant remains strong, and allow the stems to die down naturally towards the end of the season before cutting off at ground level once dead.

Common Lily Pests and Diseases

Two of the biggest problems plaguing Lilies are slugs and Lily Beetles which are highly distinctive due to their bright red colour. Slugs commonly chew through lily stems and destroy the plant until next years bloom. Be careful to treat slugs quickly by applying slug pellets or Slug Bait around the stems of your plants and remove Lily Beetles by hand or by spraying the plants with an effective pest control spray. Another common ailment in Lilies is Botrytis which is capable of killing infected plants. Botrytis can be controlled by systematic fungicide treatment.

Propagation

Lilies can be propagated in several different ways including dividing up the bulbs, by seed, by micropropagation or by scaling which involves whole scales being detached from one bulb and planted to form a new bulb. Growing lilies from seed is a very complex process which is why most gardeners opt for bulb division or scaling propagation methods. With scaling you will need to remove plump scales and re-plant each one in seed and cutting compost so that the bottom of each scale is buried. Within approximately 6 weeks tiny bulbs should appear at the base of the scales which will require re-planting in 3in pots and kept in a cold frame or cold greenhouse.

Types of Lilies – Species and Hybrids

In most cases lilies are categorized in two ways: species and hybrids. Most of the lilies commonly found in UK gardens are hybrids which vary greatly according to their parent species and are often classified into one of the following divisions or groups:

Species (also known as Division IX) – This group includes all natural species and true lilies including:

• Lilium Regale – Sometimes referred to as the Regal Lily or Lilium Trumpet Regale. This is a very special lily that is perfect for both amateur and experienced gardeners. This lily has white trumpet shaped flowers with a yellow throat and rich scent.
• Lilium Henryi – A Chinese species with later flowering orange flowers. A very robust lily that is capable of plenty of height.
• Lilium Candidum – The beautiful Madonna Lily which is native to the Middle East and Balkan regions. Highly fragrant and very popular.
• Lilium Lancifolium – A late flowering orange Turk’s Cap shaped flower with dark spots.

Hybrids

• Asiatic Hybrids or Division I – Lilies belonging to this group are derived from central and East Asian species and are medium sized plants with outward facing unscented flowers. Asiatic hybrids flower during mid-summer and include the popular Asiatic Marrakech which is famous for its deep red flowers, the Lilium Vivaldi and the Citronella Group noted for their Turk’s Cap shaped yellow flowers.
• Martagon Hybrids – The Lilies within this group have Turk’s Cap style flowers with strongly re-curved petals. Common Division II varieties include the Lilium Martgon and Lilium Hansonii.
• Candidum Hybrids or Division III – This group is made up of European species such as the Lilium Candidum or Madonna Lily.
• American Hybrids (Division IV) – Tall growing, clump-forming plants that are derived from the Lilium Pardalinum.
• Longiflorum Hybrids (Division V) – Considered to be the most important group for producing high quality cut flowers, Division V lilies are all cultivars of the parent species Longiflorum and its sub-species. As important cut flowers many of the varieties belonging to this group have been developed for particular markets, for example, the Lilium Longflorum is commonly used at Easter time when it is commonly referred to as the Easter Lily.
• Trumpet Lilies or Division VI – This division includes many of the popular Asiatic species including the Lilium Regale and Lilium Aurelianse. Flowers are trumpet shaped and highly fragrant.
• Oriental Hybrids (Division VII) – Based on Lilium Auratum and Lilium Speciosum and Asiatic crossbreeds, flowers belonging to this group are fragrant, outward facing, large and tall growing. The Lilium Oriental Merostar is a particularly notable variety.
• Other Hybrids (Division VIII) – This group includes all other garden varieties and hybrids.

For more information about how to grow lilies or to order some lily bulbs why not visit Plant Me Now at www.plantmenow.co.uk.

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