Lilies have become so popular that many gardeners are trying varieties that would have been seen in a few private gardens not too long ago.
Not only are average gardeners planting lilies, but they are finding that the old myth about lilies being difficult to grow is just that—a myth.
Today, with all the new chemicals for controlling diseases and insects, together with the fact that healthy American-grown bulbs of new hybrids are available at reasonable prices, there is no reason to have a garden without lilies.
With the new trend in gardening aimed at easy maintenance and emphasizing focal points of interest, lilies are destined to play an important role.
Easy To Grow Lilies
Although lilies have been known to mankind from the beginning of civilization and have been collected from the far corners of the globe, it is only with the recent development and introduction of many strong-growing new hybrids that lilies are taking their rightful place in gardens.
In earlier days, when bulbs were shipped great distances by land and sea, then held in quarantine for long periods, they were so thoroughly dried out by the time they reached their destination that it is small wonder they could not adapt themselves.
Indeed, it is surprising they flourished sufficiently to inspire gardeners to continue growing them.
This is probably the basic reason for the mistaken belief that lilies are difficult to grow. However, today’s new hybrids are almost as easy to grow as any other plant, and these newer types are just beginning to be discovered by home gardeners.
Principal Hybrid Features
New colors, new forms, disease resistance, and hardiness are the principal features being bred into these hybrids.
Today, lilies are available in an array of rainbow colors with new flower forms and varying heights from 1’ to 8’ feet. So, every gardener can develop his own planting design.
Lilies are grown in all sections of the country and require less work than many other flowers. I grow many of the hybrids and some of the older varieties and try to add a few new ones each year.
Lily Blooms
Lilies will produce blooms of many colors and shapes. As each variety comes into flower in my garden, I find it almost impossible to name a favorite.
In early May, the L. umbellatum hybrids arc showing buds, bringing a burst of many shades of orange, apricot, yellow, and red about when the azaleas are beginning to fade.
I like to use these in border beds, scattered among columbines, with pansies, primroses, and dainty blue forget-me-nots for companions.
The Mid-Century Hybrids
Introduced by Jan de Graaff, they offer a wide color range, and I have found that they thrive in average soil.
ENCHANTMENT, one of these hybrids, is a favorite. It has large nasturtium-red upright flowers on 4-foot stems and is very hardy.
Some of the other Mid-Century hybrids in my garden include:
- CAMPFIRE
- HARMONY
- PAGODA
- GOLD RUSH
- PARADE
- VALENCIA
- FIREPLACE
Annual Lily Show and Convention
Last July, when the North American Lily Society held its annual show and convention in Seattle, Washington, several new lilies, including some of the fine new yellows, were shown.
These will certainly be among the “best sellers” when the gardening public learns about them, and they become more plentiful on the market.
As a result of further crosses of Mid-Century hybrids, Jan de Graaff has produced DESTINY, which has open, chalice-shaped flowers of bright canary yellow with ten to twelve flowers carried on 4-foot stems.
FELICITY, CROESUS, and PROSPERITY are also in this new group of golden, outward-facing lilies.
Spring Planting
With the exception of L. candidum and L. testaceum, which should be planted in late summer, most lilies do well whether planted in the fall or early spring, at least here in the Pacific Northwest.
Bulbs offered for spring planting have been carefully held in cold storage by growers and can be planted as early as weather permits.
Preston Hybrids
The Preston hybrids, introduced by Miss Isabella Preston, of Ottawa, Canada, some years ago, provide several early-blooming lilies which may be grown in partial shade or sun.
They average about 4′ feet in height and vary from yellow to orange and red. Several have been named and should be included in your lily selection for a colorful garden display.
One of these which I particularly like is LILLIAN CUMMINGS, a dark red, which does well in sun or light shade.
I have interplanted the improved Madonna in one border with a background planting of delphinium and Siberian iris.
Cascade, with its glistering pure white flowers, used the stately Croft lilies and Esther Reed daisies to the front.
The new ACE strain of Croft lilies reaches a height of about 2′ feet in my garden and produces about 20 blooms per bulb the first year, making a long blooming period.
The variety ESTATE is also good and is a taller plant.
Olympic Hybrid Centifolium Lilies
Every collection should include some of the Olympic hybrid centifolium lilies. These make strong plants from 5’ to 7’ or 8’ feet tall. I like to plant these among camellias and rhododendrons.
Lilium Martagon
Not a new lily, but one seen far too seldom is the dainty L. Martagon album with its waxy white Turk’s cap blooms, which grow symmetrically on pyramidal four-foot stems.
I have one planting of this lily in partial shade in rich soil, and it thrives with no special care.
Fiesta Hybrids
The bright and gay Fiesta hybrids make a striking patch of color during July, with color variations from bright yellow to a rich, dark red, a new color in this type of lily.
These will vary from 4’ to 6’ feet and should be planted in full sun. The flowers are somewhat reflexed and are very good for use in arrangements.
Aurelian Hybrids
The Aurelian hybrids, sometimes called lilies of the future, are rapidly gaining popularity. This strain, the result of crosses between L. Henryi and the trumpet lilies, varies from open bowl-shape to full trumpets.
Many variations in color and shape provide added interest in growing these hybrids.
Aurelian Golden Clarion
Anyone who has grown the beautiful Olympic hybrids with their long white trumpets is certain to fall in love with the Aurelian GOLDEN CLARION.
It has magnificent golden yellow trumpets carried in a well-balanced pyramidal style on a sturdy stem.
It is still rather scarce and more expensive than some other Aurelians, but it should not be too long before it is in a lower price range.
Lilium Lankongense
A different lily, rather new to this country although it was discovered in China many years ago, is L. lankongense. The lovely, delicately scented flowers are a pale rose that deepens with age to light lavender.
It blooms in late July or early August and should be used in semi-shade. As it becomes better known, it should prove very popular.
Lilium Attractant Platyphyllum
One of the most exotic lilies in appearance and scent is L. attractant platyphyllum, or gold band lily.
It is exceptionally good in our garden, and I like to use it in a focal spot where it can be enjoyed to the utmost.
I remember that I thought $1.50 for one bulb of this lily was rather expensive a few years ago. Still, I consider it very inexpensive when I recall the profusion of bloom and the many bulblets I have removed from the base of the stem in the fall to start in other spots in the garden.
One five-year-old bulb had four stems carrying over 60 flowers last season.
There have also been new developments with this lily, with some almost pure white (TRICOLOR), with only a few delicate yellow spots and pale golden rays, while others have a striking crimson ray on a pure white background with exceptionally large open flowers (Picrum).
Jan de Graaff exhibited one of the latter varieties at the Seattle lily show and was given a special award.
Pink Lilies
Most everyone is familiar with the pink L. speciosum rubrum and the white L. speciosum album. They usually bloom in late August.
I have a planting of the white variety KRAETZERI which has a delicate chartreuse midrib and is among my top favorites.
Jillian Wallace
JILLIAN WALLACE (L. auratum x L. speciosum rubrum) introduced recently from Australia, has large dark carmine blossoms, almost flat, which are very striking.
It is still new enough to be rather expensive but stocks are being built up rapidly.
Lilium Speciosum Hybrids
For the gardener who has limited space but must have lilies and wants a long blooming period, there is an answer in the L. speciosum hybrids being developed particularly by Leslie Woodriff, also known for his work with begonias.
These hybrids are the result of many crosses and seem to have retained all the good features of the parents.
Caring For Lilies
I haven’t mentioned any particular care I give my lilies. Perhaps that is one reason I like to grow them and one that makes a lily such a satisfactory flower.
Once properly planted, it doesn’t have to be lifted and stored every season. In fact, the more you leave it alone, the more it will do for you.
I try to keep the soil loosely worked and free of weeds. I spray carefully in the spring when the aphids make their appearance. In the fall, when I grind my summer’s accumulation of compost.
I put mulch over the beds after the final clean-up. This is repeated during the summer, adding a little fertilizer before the blooming period. Then all I have to do is to wait for the buds to begin another season’s display.
Growing New Lilies
Growing these new lilies will open a phase of gardening that will provide a great deal of pleasure for anyone who has never watched a lovely lily unfold or walked in a moonlit garden when the scent of lilies fills the heart with peace and gladness.
P. S. I love lilies.
44659 by Florence A. Talbot