What Can You Learn From 10 Years Of Growing Lilies?

This is the tenth summer I have grown lilies by the acre. Before raising them on so large a scale, I planted lilies in a few odd corners of my gardens and some nearby trial beds. 

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Now, 75 acres are devoted to lilies, mostly new and hybrid varieties.

Rapid Expansion of Lilies

The years of rapid expansion in these lily plantings have not been easy. As the acreage and the number of new hybrids being propagated increased, I found that more and more problems confronted me. 

I had to raise a crop about which little or nothing was known—one on which no two authorities agreed—and I had to do it on a commercial scale. And, apart from learning how to grow lilies. 

At the same time, I had devised ways and means of bringing my new American-grown products to the attention of our gardeners, who, during the war years, had lost the habit of planting lilies.

Absence of Cultural Practice And Consumer Interest

However, I believe that the absence of both proven cultural practices and consumer interest has been a boon to the industry. 

Since they were not bound by tradition, all my production methods could be kept on a flexible basis. Therefore, any new facts could be put into use immediately.

I knew that if I were to grow lilies in large quantities, they would have to respond to ordinary farming methods. I simply could not provide special treatment for each species or group of hybrids. 

Not only would the cost have been prohibitive, but we could hardly expect the average gardener to be well enough informed to give his new lilies the same consideration.

Aid of Machinery

Means of planting and harvesting lilies with the aid of machinery also had to be devised. New packing methods were tested, storage temperatures were studied.

And, as a result, the lily has progressed in these last ten years from a rather fickle, unpredictable plant to one that gives a dependable performance with a minimum of special care.

Forcing Lilies On A Large Scale

Commercial florists, outdoor cut flower growers, and greenhouse operators are now thinking of the new colorful hybrid lilies as pot plants and cut flower crops. 

Last winter, Dr. S. L. Emsweller of the United States Department of Agriculture forced these lilies on a large scale.

During the last ten years, growers, dealers, and gardeners alike have learned much about the lily. We know now that it is a growing plant and must always be treated as such, even in transit. 

But the frequency with which lily bulbs are displayed in a completely dried-out condition on hot, dry counters in stores as if they were no different from dormant tulips or hyacinths makes us realize that more educational work remains to be done.

Complexities of Producing Hybrid Lilies

The complexities of producing hybrid lilies are many and are well illustrated in the history of the trumpet lilies. 

First, we had the ubiquitous regal lily, a most satisfactory and inexpensive garden plant. 

There was also a small supply of other types, such as the species:

• L. myriophyllum superbum (L. sulphureum)
• L. Leucanthemum chloraster (L. I. centifolium)
• L. sargentiae

From these four, the new Olympic Hybrids, the Green Fountain Hybrids, and several other excellent strains of hardy garden lilies were evolved—all of them of pure trumpet lily parentage.

Aurelian Lilies

Lilium henryi was then introduced into this strain. The resulting Aurelian lilies, as they have been called, are now readily available from growers in this country, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and even in Holland and England. 

Second and third-generation crosses have produced pure golden yellow trumpet lilies, notably the Golden Clarion strain, and some beautifully colored star-shaped lilies, the Sunburst strain. 

There are also chalice-shaped, orange-throated flowers of the Heart’s Desire type and other variations yet to be named. Their richly colored flowers and exotic form make all the Aurelians truly exciting plants to watch.

Combining Species For Better Garden Lilies

Other species are also being combined to produce better garden lilies. The tiger lily has produced several fine seedlings when crossed with the upright-flowering lilies of the candlestick type. 

These new highly colored hybrids are currently offered as the following:

• Mid-Century strain, which includes both lilies with large outward-facing flowers and those with upright flowers;
• Hollywood Hybrids with smaller, star-shaped flowers;
• Sierra Hybrids, with outward-facing richly colored flowers;
• The small group that resembles the tiger lily in all respects but color and which has been called the Tiger Hybrids

Yellow Hybrid Lilies

An entirely new quality in these lilies is the exciting pure yellow color derived from L. amabile and the yellow form of L. concolor. 

These golden yellows, three of which have been named DESTINY, PROSPERITY, and FELICITY, are not yet on the market.

Strangely enough, pure yellow in hybrid lilies has shown up at the same time in the gardens of many lily breeders. 

From Japan comes the word yellow tiger lily. In England, we have already seen flowers that resemble L. davidi, except for their soft canary yellow hues, and from Canada, we hear of golden yellows in Dr. F. L. Skinner’s and Dr. E. V. Palmer’s gardens. 

The addition of new yellow strains has further extended the already wide variation of colors available in the Fiesta Hybrids. 

I understand that Miss Isabella Preston of Ottawa, Canada, is working along the same lines with her fine garden lilies.

Yellow is the color of those fascinating, early flowering candlestick lilies, the Golden Chalice Strain. There are now several pure yellow regal lilies. 

One was raised by the late Earl Butterfield of Washington, D. C., another by Ralph Tait of Bellingham, Washington. And Dr. Skinner of Manitoba raised a pure yellow L. pumilum sport called Yellow Bunting.

At the same time that these yellows appeared, many of the orange and red hybrid lilies were backcrossed once more, and lovely soft pastel shades of great beauty were produced. 

I believe that this break is due to the same genetic changes that produced pastel asters and zinnias after many generations of harsher colors. 

For instance, these new “art shades” in the Mid-Century lilies are coupled with still greater vigor and better flower substance. They are not yet on the market.

High Fashion Pink Lilies

Pink is always “high fashion” in flowers; in lilies, it would be a desirable color. What makes it all the more tempting is the fact that there is indeed a small group of rose pink hybrid lilies, the fine novelties raised by Ralph Warner of Milford, Connecticut, from crosses between L. japonicum and L. auratum. 

Miss Norma Pfeiffer of the Boyce Thompson Institute has made the same crosses. I understand that these fine lilies are now being propagated and that the time of their introduction is still a few years off.

Pink Lilies

There are, of course, other pink lilies, notably in the large trumpet lily group. In addition, the Olympic Hybrids and some of the strains raised in Vermont often produce pink variants. 

The pink of these trumpet lilies is far from the sweet, soft pink of the dog rose or the delicate coloring of some sea shells. 

According to the Royal Horticultural Society’s color charts, the pink in trumpet lilies is a fuchsia pink of varying intensity. In hot climates, it tends to bleach. 

Similar lilies of pure trumpet lily origin, but having a trace of the orange L. henryi, not only have a better, more evenly distributed pink coloring but also withstand the warmer climates and do not bleach. Unfortunately, these newer pinks are, as yet, still rare.

Green Color Is In Demand

Odd as it may seem, green is another color in demand. One truly green lily is the lovely species, L. nepalense. 

The contrasting wine-red coloring of the throat makes the green all the more striking. It is a fascinating lily, sweet-scented, beautiful but rather weak, so it will never be a good garden plant unless we can put more vigor into it. 

Green, too, are some of the latest trumpet lily hybrids, resulting from back-crosses of the best Aurelians to a fine strain of yellow L. myriophyllum super-bum (L. sulphureum).

New Madonnas

There are new Madonnas in shades of ivory and soft apricot, dwarf Madonnas, such as WHITE ELF, and a large group of L. candidum hybrids with vivid orange-red pollen. 

Years ago, WHITE KNIGHT, a Madonna lily hybrid with nodding flowers, was introduced. 

There are more of this type now, vigorous and healthy and wonderful additions to the range of white lilies. 

Other new lilies include the following:

• L. speciosum hybrids
• The lovely JILLIAN WALLACE from Australia
• The new hybrid of L. cernuum
• L. martagon
• Many of our native lilies

Greatest Value Of New Plants

The greatest value of these new plants lies not in their variety of form and color, in their different flowering seasons and growth habits, but rather in their hardiness and increased resistance to pests and diseases. 

Their ready adjustment to varying conditions, their vigor, and persistence under adversity are qualities that outweigh many refinements of color and form.

Lilies Must Have Perfect Soil Drainage

Air drainage is important, too, for a good breeze can keep many garden pests and diseases away. 

If your site is level and the soil heavy, dig a round hole 18” inches deep and 12” inches wide for each bulb. 

Fill the hole with 6” inches of gravel on the bottom and a mixture of one-half sandy loam, one-fourth leaf mold, and one-fourth river sand. 

Place some extra sand under and around the bulb and take care not to damage the roots.

Lilies Need Sunlight

Lilies need sunlight, at least until midafternoon. Filtered sunlight or semi-shade may bring out the more delicate colors, but it tends to make weak stems and flowers of poor substance. 

Do not plant lilies near house walls, walks, or drives that reflect sunlight or heat.

WHITE ELF and the Cascade Strain of L. candidum should be planted with not more than 1” inch of settled soil over the top of the bulbs. All other lilies need not more than 4” inches of soil over them.

Lilies Are Gross Feeders And Root Deeply

They need porous, well-aerated soil rich in humus and well-balanced plant food. They like a good mulch of well-rotted cow manure, rich compost, or decaying leaf mold. This can be applied several times during the growing season. 

The mulch keeps the soil cool, discourages weed growth, and eliminates the need for surface cultivation which might injure stem roots. 

Shallow-rooted ground covers to keep the ground shaded. Do not expect your lilies to compete with strong-growing perennials or shrubs.

Like all plants, lilies need their stems and foliage to manufacture food for the next year’s growth. Thus, cutting the flowers only and preventing the plants from setting seed is beneficial.

Natural Fertilizers

Natural fertilizers such as well-rotted cow manure are ideal. A handful of balanced fertilizer scattered over every few feet and a pound of wood ashes every 20 square feet, repeated twice or thrice during the growing season, will help keep the lilies strong and healthy. 

If your soil and water are alkaline, then two or three times during the growing season, scatter a pinch or two of agricultural sulfur over the soil surface and water it in. 

Peat moss, being slightly acidic, is good for lilies. In addition, it provides an ideal medium for the stem roots when used as mulch.

Lily Bulbs Are Never Completely Dormant

They must be shipped as soon as possible after digging and should be ordered as early as possible. If the bulbs are slightly limp upon arrival, place them in wet peat moss for a few days.

Never plant new bulbs where other lilies have failed to grow. And never plant them in heavy, soggy soil.

Growing New Lilies

Growing new lilies and finding a market for them is “big business.” One encounters all the difficulties and hardships that are part and parcel of the business world, in addition to that incident to the raising of a sensitive new horticultural crop. 

For all of that, despite the worries and difficulties involved, I can say that I know of no other business which gives satisfaction in such full measure. 

To see acre upon acre of these stately new lilies in their exotic splendor, to have a hand in shaping the future garden flowers, and to be among the first to see and appreciate them, is a great and high privilege. 

Looking ahead, I am tempted to predict that with the infinite amount of work still to be done, the many new hybrids still to be developed, and with all the problems that the business world thrusts upon us, the first ten years have been the easiest. 

I, nevertheless, feel confident about the future, for the beauty of the lily can never be denied.

44659 by Jan De Graaf