One need not become a lily specialist to profit from adding lilies to his general garden scheme. Indeed, it is doubtful if any other group of flowering plants will add more interest and beauty to the overall landscape effect than a collection of lilies.
They may be in bloom from June well into September. They add the valuable dimension of height to plantings, and with the new hybrids now available, they provide a range of blossom forms and colors.
Lilies can play the most important part in creating more attractive and original home surroundings.
There are lilies that like the full sun; others that tolerate or prefer considerable shade. Some varieties flower in early summer, midsummer, and autumn.
There are some species and varieties that grow but 18 inches tall; any number that goes 3’ to 5’ feet, and many that, with good culture, will put on their impressive display up to 6’ or 7’ feet above the ground, remaining in bloom for a considerable period and dominating the landscape scheme.
Important Roles Of Lilies
In Any Mixed Border
In any mixed border, lilies can play a most important role in adding points of contrast and accent that will greatly enhance the general effectiveness of the planting.
Few perennials accomplish this purpose, and none do so effectively over such a long period.
In many places, there are boundary plantings of evergreens, shrubs, or hedges which, even though there may be no flower borders in front of them, would make perfect backgrounds for group plantings of lilies.
For an artistic effect, these should not be planted continuously but at irregular intervals in groups that provide separate units of focal interest in the garden.
For Color In Early Spring
Before the first lilies bloom, the intervening spaces may be planted with spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and camassias.
The dying foliage of these plants, so often a problem, makes a ground cover for the lilies.
For Formal Effects
Here, too, lilies have their place. As accent points in a formal design, where tall flowers are needed, nothing else can quite equal them.
In many modern small formal gardens, color accents are maintained by growing plants in tubs or large pots.
They can be moved into place while in flower and later removed to be replaced by something else. For such use, lilies are ideal since most can easily be grown in pots or large tubs.
For Shady Areas
While the majority of lilies—especially the new hybrid varieties and strains— may be grown in full sun, many prefer or will tolerate considerable shade. This is especially true if it is a “high” shade that admits ample light at the ground level, even with no direct sunshine.
The shade-loving varieties are of special value in gardens where landscaped woodland areas need the impressive color accents provided by lilies.
For Patio Plantings
The patio, usually shaded from hot direct sunshine and strong winds, provides a favorable place to display lilies grown in tubs or planters.
These may be moved into the desired locations as the plants come into bloom and removed when they are through.
For this purpose, kinds that are not too tall and are likely to remain in flower for a considerable period, and varieties with fragrance, are good selections.
For Cutting
Lilies are among the most decorative of all flowers for cutting, and they remain in good condition longer than most cut flowers, the buds continuing to open for ten days or more.
Lilies and Companion Plants
We suggest the early-flowering lilies as companion plants artemisia, heuchera, nepeta, phlox, platycodon, salvia, statice, and Thermopsis with a generous planting of bearded iris such as Blue Lakes and some of the new salmon-pink and orchid varieties.
Pure white phlox, improved Oriental poppies, and Artemisia Silver King make good foils for lilies.
To plant with late-flowering lilies, we suggest Oenothera youngii, with a warning to keep it within reasonable limits; Plumbago Larpentae; Thalictrum glaucum and its improved variety Rochenbrunianum; and a good selection of asters, heleniums, and veronicas.
Late Flowering chrysanthemums may well be used with good effect to fill in bare spots. Annuals, too, are excellent in a lily border. Once the lilies have emerged, they can be set out to fill any areas that need a color accent when the lilies do not furnish it.
44659 by F. F. Rockwell