Lilies are probably the most widespread backyard and slicing flowers, and for good purpose! These versatile bulbs are straightforward to develop and may naturalize within the backyard, returning yr after yr. If you wish to add these bulbs to your backyard, right here’s what it’s worthwhile to learn about find out how to develop lilies.
Lilies are probably the most versatile summer time bulbs on the market. They arrive in fairly effectively any color underneath the rainbow, many with speckles and ombre hues. And the perfume! Boy, while you get a aromatic selection, they don’t disappoint.
Lilies are additionally one of many hardiest summer time bulbs, performing as perennials and naturalizing in most gardens they’re planted in.
As a result of lilies are so widespread and huge, there’s usually fairly a little bit of confusion over what constitutes a lily. As an illustration, calla lilies, canna lilies, and lily of the valley are all not true lilies (learn extra about true lilies right here).
This submit will cowl what it’s worthwhile to learn about find out how to develop true lilies and get a wave of lovely color yr after yr.
Sponsored submit: thanks thanks to flowerbulb.eu for sponsoring this submit on find out how to develop lilies. I really like working with them as a result of they’ve the easy objective of encouraging individuals to develop flower bulbs of their backyard. Go to flowerbulb.eu for inspiration and schooling!
Meet the Lily Flower
Few flowers come as daring and versatile because the lily. Summer time bulbs have a tendency to supply good splashes of color, and lilies don’t disappoint. They arrive in any color you’ll be able to consider, generally with noticed patterns and contrasting colors.
Most lilies bloom from June to August, however you may get flowers as early as Could and as late as September for some varieties.
Lilies have been cultivated for 1000’s of years. A few of the first mentions of lilies date again to 4,000 years in the past. The Greeks notably cherished lilies, together with footage of them on their ceramics.
Artifacts with lilies have been discovered from the traditional Minoan tradition of Crete. Additionally widespread in China and Japan, they’ve been used as a eating room centrepiece flower for hundreds of years.
Native to the northern hemisphere, lilies usually develop naturally in mountainous areas. They develop greatest in Zones 5-8, although there are lilies that may deal with situations as little as Zone 3 and zones as excessive as Zone 9.
Lily Plant and Care Information
Planting Directions
When planting lilies, your greatest wager is to observe the directions on the packaging. Since there are a lot of several types of lilies on the market, all of them may have barely completely different planting directions.
That being mentioned, listed here are some normal planting directions you’ll be able to observe. The lily is a real bulb, barely rounded in form with a considerably pointed prime. Most lilies ought to be planted with the roots dealing with down and the “pointy” find yourself, about 6 inches deep.
House your lilies 12 inches aside in case you’re planting a number of bulbs. Combine in some compost when planting.
You possibly can plant your lilies in early-to mid autumn, in addition to mid-spring as soon as the specter of frost has handed. If planting in autumn, add a layer of mulch to insulate the bulbs through the winter and suppress weeds come spring.
Daylight Necessities
Lilies thrive in full solar, ideally getting between 6-8 hours of direct daylight. Once they have an excessive amount of shade, they are going to attempt to search it out, getting spindly and falling over within the course of.
Lilies prefer to have cool ft, AKA they need shade on the decrease half of the stem. To do that, guarantee there are some floor cowl vegetation that can shelter the bottom of the lily, or place another quick annuals across the base.
Lilies additionally pair exceptionally effectively with perennials since they act the identical and can return the next yr. I actually love them with ferns!
Water
Lilies like well-drained soil, as water trapped beneath the floor can rot the bulb. You probably have poor soil, mixing in compost is a good suggestion to enhance it.
As soon as the lily bulbs emerge within the spring, you’ll be able to start to water them. I solely water mine if we’re having a noticeable spring drought, in any other case, we get sufficient moisture for the lilies to do high-quality on their very own.
Soil
In addition to needing good drainage, lilies aren’t too choosy about their soil. Most will choose acidic to impartial soil, however there are a couple of noticeable varieties, reminiscent of Madonna lilies, that choose alkaline soils. You possibly can carry out a pH check in your backyard following these directions.
There isn’t any must fertilize lilies which can be planted within the backyard. Simply including a layer of compost on prime of the soil right here and there’s all of your lily wants for vitamins.
Planting Lilies in Pots
Lilies are identified to develop exceptionally effectively in pots. After all, the pots should be large enough to accommodate the lily, particularly since we plant them about 6 inches deep. A pot that’s 12-16 inches tall is sweet…and don’t neglect one with drainage holes!
I take advantage of my very own potting soil combine for my container vegetation, and can add in fertilizer each two weeks through the rising season.
Solely plant low-growing lily cultivars in pots, particularly if it will likely be in a windy place. Maintain it under cultivars which can be 30 inches tall or decrease. Many Asiatic varieties are good for pots.
Utilizing Lilies as Reduce Flowers
You possibly can have lilies from June to August, relying on what selection you develop. Out of the various sorts of lilies, Asiatic, oriental, and lilium longiflorum (Easter lilies) are among the extra widespread lower flowers.
Asiatic lilies are the primary to bloom. As a result of they develop upward and actually stand out in a bouquet, they’re the commonest lily grown commercially for lower flowers.
Oriental lilies are well-known for being very aromatic, simply filling up a room with their scent from only one bloom. Additionally they create among the grandest lily blooms.
Lilies are identified for being a long-lasting lower flower, blooming for as much as ten days as soon as within the vase.
When slicing the flowers out of your backyard, lower them as soon as the buds are colored and the underside flower on the stalk is simply starting to open.
Lily pollen is messy, and may stain tables or counters. So as soon as the lily blooms, use a tissue to take away or lower off the pollen anthers.
Warning: Lilies and Cats
As soon as upon a time, I had probably the most magnificent lily. The attractive ‘Black Magnificence’ (proven above) was given to me as bulbs by a pricey buddy. She was so blissful in my backyard that she grew right into a mammoth that should have neared ten ft excessive in her prime.
However sadly, I needed to dig all of them up.
However why, you ask? Properly, it’s as a result of my household expanded to incorporate this man.
If you happen to haven’t my handsomely dressed cat but, that’s Magic. And lilies are extraordinarily poisonous to cats. Even only a lick of the pollen on their fur could make them severely ailing.
So, as a lot as I cherished these lovely lilies, I really like Magic extra. It was time to say goodbye to my lily arch. Simply take a look at how a lot pollen might be on lilies!
Since I couldn’t transplant her till the tip of the rising season, I needed to exit day-after-day and hand-cut the pollen from the stems the primary yr I had Magic. I admired my lily day-after-day understanding she wouldn’t be within the backyard subsequent yr.
Whereas she’s now lengthy gone and has a brand new dwelling, I nonetheless maintain an affinity for lilies. Any time I see them in a passing backyard, I at all times cease to admire them. I’ll develop them once more in my backyard simply as I did for the ten years earlier than I had a cat.
Attempt Rising These Summer time Bulbs
A metropolis lady who realized to backyard and it modified all the things. Creator, artist, Grasp Gardener. Higher dwelling by means of vegetation.
