If you are growing lilies for the first time, you are entering one of the most exciting and rewarding of all garden adventures.
Until recently, lilies were considered exotic and difficult plants, suitable only for the expert gardener or estate owner.
With few exceptions, they were natural species, each of which, to thrive satisfactorily, required conditions of soil and climate similar to that of its native habitat.
However, with the development of hybrids from the native species, the picture has changed. Today, the average gardener can plant lilies with as much confidence of success as he has concerning most of the other flowers he grows.
For Successful Lily Culture
The basic requirements for successful lily culture are not difficult to provide. They include a moderately rich loam and, for most types, slightly acid soil and a fair amount of moisture in well-drained beds.
Lilies that do well in part shade, dry situations or tolerate non-acid soil are mentioned later in this article.
Starting With Lilies
In starting with lilies, the two most important points to keep in mind are to procure varieties that will provide a long succession of blooms, and to realize that to make an effective showing, at least three of each kind should be grown together.
There should be six to twelve in a group for really striking displays.
Large Selection Of Lilies
Suppose one wishes to have a large selection of lilies and has only a moderate amount of money to invest. In that case, this can be accomplished by planting one bulb each of several bulbil- or bulblet-forming kinds, such as Lillian lignum, ENCHANTMENT, and the FIESTA HYBRIDS, in a home lily nursery.
Most lilies increase fairly rapidly by natural multiplication, even if artificial propagation by scales (which is relatively simple) is not used.
Many kinds may also be grown readily from seed, which will require two to four years, except for a few species, such as L. regale and L. philippinense, which often produce blooms in the first year.
Success In Lily Blooms
To get a long succession of lily blooms, it is essential to select varieties or species from several different groups. Without a great many different kinds, one may enjoy lilies in a fairly constant succession of bloom from late May until frost.
Any good lily catalog—and there is a number he had for the mere writing of a postal card—gives the flowering dates. Naturally, these vary by a month or more in different sections of the country, but they follow the same sequence.
Propagate From Scales
Lilies were propagated from scales—the thick, leaf-like food-storage organs forming the bulbs—for centuries.
Each new bulb produced a flower exactly like its predecessor, just as a cutting reproduces exactly the plant from which it is obtained.
With the new hybrids coming, however, the practice of producing bulbs from seed arose, with the result that while the lilies so grown varied somewhat in coloring, form, and time of bloom, they formed groups that had fixed characteristics.
Lily Hybrids
Many good lilies are now offered in such strains as MID-CENTURY HYBRIDS, GREEN MOUNTAIN HYBRIDS, and TEMPLE HYBRIDS.
We have found these slight variations a great advantage in the garden, especially the variation in the flowering time, as this gives each type a longer bloom period.
From these hybrid mixtures or strains, a few are selected as individually named varieties and propagated by scales so that they will all be identical.
Examples are ENCHANTMENT, one of our favorites from the MID-CENTURY group, and DR. ABEL from the FIESTA group.
A list from which selections may be made to provide an almost uninterrupted display accompanies this article.
How To Use Lilies In Garden Scheme
Another thing you will want to consider before planting lilies is how to use them in your general garden scheme.
If you think you are likely to become a lily enthusiast—as many do once they have grown them—then planning for a lily border devoted primarily to this regal and varied genus will be good.
Such a border need not be planted with lilies alone, for these aristocrats are quite democratic. However, they thrive much better when grown with other plants and shrubs.
Ideal Location For Lily Border
The ideal location for a lily border is one with perfect drainage, and so situated that parts are in full sun while others receive light shade.
It is also desirable to have the border face east or south, with fairly substantial protection back in the form of evergreens such as hemlock and pine or broad-leaved types like rhododendron, laurel, and Pieris japonica.
These provide protection and form a background that shows off the spires of bloom of the taller varieties to the best advantage.
Flower Border
As a rule, the gardener beginning with lilies, will not plan on devoting a special space to them but will consider them as new material for his established flower border.
In such instances, he must select the kinds that best fit into existing conditions, such as soil and exposure, and the part they will play in the general display.
Towering 6- or 8-foot spikes in a bed of annuals or low perennials with a substantial background may look somewhat inconsistent, but they are likely to be blown over by high winds or suffer from too much sun too little moisture.
Lilies of medium height will be found in the accompanying list.
For Small Border
For small borders and rock gardens or where space is limited, or backgrounds are low, and it is best to use low-growing varieties. The dwarf forms are charming in a moderately sized rock garden or band planting.
Among the best are the following:
- MEGA
- L. pumilum
- L. rubellum
- L. amabile
- dwarf L. candidum
- L. formosanum Pricei
- L. dauricum Wilsoni
- The GOLDEN CHALICE HYBRIDS are 2′ to 3′ feet high.
For Sunny Border
For the sunny border, there are many lovely lilies. The newer hybrid strains need plenty of sunshine.
In our garden, we have found that they can “take it,” and we have seen huge fields in Oregon.
For Shady Location
Here are a few lilies that will do well for a shady location, such as the open woods.
Not many will survive dense shade, though we have found giant plants of the eastern native L. superbum, usually considered a sun-lover, in full bloom in quite densely shaded swamps. L. rubellum, L. Martagon, and its hybrids.
BELLINGHAM HYBRIDS:
- FIREFLAME
- L. philippinense
TEMPLE HYBRIDS:
- L. dauricum Wilsoni
HAVEMEYER HYBRIDS
- L. speciosum enjoy part shade
Several others (see chart) may be grown in light shade.
Lilies Indoors
Lilies may also be grown successfully indoors. Their lovely blooms, spotless and softly delicate when grown inside, bring a touch of summer to the winter greenhouse or sun porch.
Pot your lily bulbs in a rich porous soil mixture and place them in a cold frame until they show top growth.
Then the lilies may be moved to the greenhouse or a room where a temperature of about 60° degrees Fahrenheit can be maintained.
Some lilies that will thrive indoors are the following:
- GOLDEN CHALICE HYBRIDS
- RAINBOW HYBRIDS
- L. Martagons albums
- FIESTA HYBRIDS
- The hybrids of L. Henryi
Lilies For First Time Gardeners
For the gardener who is growing lilies for the first time, we would suggest any, or if possible all, of the following. Most of them increase readily under ordinary garden conditions.
- L. canadense
- L. candidum
- ENCHANTMENT
- FIESTA HYBRIDS
- L. formosanum
- L. Martagon
- MID-CENTURY HYBRIDS
- OLYMPIC HYBRIDS
- L. pardalinum (SUNSET)
- L. regale
- L. speciosum
- L. superbum
Lilies In Mixed Border
Whether you use lilies in a mixed border, a rock garden, or alone in a special bed, you will be awed by the royal splendor of their blooms.
Gently swaying in the cool breezes of May, thrusting straight and tall into the sunlight of July, or accenting with their fantastic colors the lush foliage of September, lilies will delight and enchant you.
44659 by F. F. Rockwell