Recently, the gardener yearning for a great display of pure white Madonna lilies has had to inhibit his desire for them. He could not afford bulbs in large quantities, and if he had no greenhouse, his attempts to raise seeds and seedlings were often plagued with failures. But the world moves forward. Today, hundreds of … Read more
In my garden, the madonna lily (Lilium candidum) is one of my loveliest plants. Even nicer, it is the easiest of all true lilies I grow. With a little winter protection, it is hardy here in the North, and I have seen it thriving in gardens everywhere. This lovely white lily is native to Southern … Read more
The former owner of my house left a bed of rather straggly rose bushes and a decidedly Swedish-looking plant that emerged through the Bermuda-covered bed that spring. After several attempts to destroy the weed, I let the plant grow to maturity to discover exactly what the persistent thing might be. Beautiful Madonna Lilies Imagine my … Read more
Madonna Lily – Popular name for Lilium candidum, a white-flowered hardy species. The former owner of my house left a bed of somewhat rambling rose bushes and a decidedly weedish-looking plant that emerged through the Bermuda-covered bed that spring. After several attempts to destroy the weed, I let the plant grow to maturity to discover … Read more
The Madonna lily, Lilium candidum, has been cultivated in gardens for over 3,400 years. Such popularity is richly deserved for it is the loveliest lily in existence. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest to raise successfully in ordinary garden soil. It is an excellent choice for our American gardens because it is one … Read more
The following are responses to a request for cultural information on the Madonna lily from readers who have grown this lily successfully in their gardens over the years. Doing Well In Heavy Soil I planted 5″ inch lily bulbs three years ago, and they bloomed the following year. This year, they have three spikes to … Read more