The hundreds of letters that came in answer to “The Beginning Gardener” lily quiz in the March issue were almost overwhelming. More than 1,100 answers (from all 50 states except Nevada and Hawaii) were received. Over 72% percent had correct lists, meaning about 800 packets of lily and hemerocallis seeds were sent. Many more chose … Read more
There are yellow lilies, but so far they leave much to be desired. There is Lilium umbellatum, Golden Fleece, and some of the Golden Chalice hybrids of umbellatum-dauricum. But these are upright-facing lilies, and many flower growers do not especially care for this type of lily. They are healthy, vigorous, and easy to grow, and … Read more
Few enjoy enviable popularity among tender bulbous plants, and others are treated as such. Most relatively neglected species deserve greater popularity, and none deserves it more than the summer-flowering species of Hymenocallis, or Ismene, as it’s commonly referred to and listed in most catalogs. Hymenocallis clothing, better known as Spider-lily, basket-flower, or Peruvian daffodil, comes … Read more
For an unusual and lovely houseplant, try this coral-red lily-like bulb. It is a near relation to the Guernsey lily of the amaryllis family. It is easy to grow and entirely free from insect pests or fungus diseases. Unusual Shade Of Coral Red Both corolla and stamens are an unusual shade of coral red – … Read more
Outstanding displays are not unusual in southern California gardens. But, last fall, I saw a breathtaking sight that stands out so vividly in my mind that it will not soon be forgotten. It was a magnificent outdoor planting of the blood lily, Haemanthus katherinae. Under an old, wide-branching oak some distance away, I spied great globes … Read more
Lillies are easily a close competitor of guinea pigs as regards the rapidity with which they may be propagated. Practically all species and varieties normally increase themselves by splitting the mother bulb or by forming small bulblets on the underground portion of the flower stem. A few, such as Lillian tigrinum, Myriophyllum, sargentiae, and bulbiferum, … Read more
Lilium giganteum is one of the largest and most spectacular of all lilies. It grows to a height of 10’ feet or more and bears as many as 20 to 30 blooms to the stem. The flowers are semi-pendulous trumpets, about 8” inches long, white with purplish red striping inside. The large glossy leaves average … Read more
One of the most valued characteristics of a pot plant is its long blooming period. Bulbous plants often fail in this respect, but one that meets this requirement is the Scarborough lily, Vallota speciosa. This member of the amaryllis family, which is not a true lily, has umbels of scarlet, funnel-form flowers, each about 3″ … Read more
Lilies are members of the Lilium genus. What could be a more straightforward answer to the question posed by the title than that? But within that simple description is a wealth of possibilities. Divisions typically distinguish lilies. Here are a few examples: Division I contains the Asiatic hybrids. The flowers face upward and have no … Read more
Trumpet lilies announce themselves with bursts of color. Though given an entire division (Division 6 in the official catalog), these are not ‘purebred’ lilies but a hybrid derived from Asiatics. Nevertheless, they are worthy not only of a division but of all the attention they get. The name comes from their shape, which has the … Read more