Known for having a flair for the fabulous, lilies are also thought of as difficult flowers to grow. Growing lilies may have a reputation for being difficult, but adding a bulb to somewhat decent soil is all it takes. In fact, the flowers produced by lilies really put in perspective the efforts of other garden or border plants. Nothing can really compete with the scent of a grouping of oriental lilies on a summer evening. There is a reason so many people continue growing them after their first attempt.
If any name can be attributed with the term lily, it should be misleading as ‘lilies’ of any form all belong to their own families. The true lilies belong to the family of Lilium and come from a special bulb. These true lily bulbs are special in that they have no tough outer skins like other bulbs you may buy, as a result, they bruise and dry out easily. A good lily bulb to buy is fresh with no blemishes and it should be planted soon after purchase.
The main types
Most garden lilies fall into a few groups that make choosing easier. First are the June flowering, generally unscented, and strongly colored lilies, best for beginners. This is due to their higher soil tolerance. The highly fragrant blooms, typically associated with lilies, and the giant August flowering blooms are examples from the Oriental variant. These plants are highly dependent on soil pH. The unforgiving and highly alkaline chalky soils will result in a slow demise unless the lilies are grown in pots with ericaceous compost. The trumpeting blooms of Trumpet lilies can be enchanted by summer breezes. Tiger lilies dangle their spotted blooms and possess a rustic, charming quality that the modern hybrids lose.
Lilies, in all the aforementioned categories, can be purchased from specialists like Bloms Bulbs for spring planting. Orders from specialists mean bigger bulbs, and bigger in lilies means in the first year more flowers and more stems.
Planting
In autumn and early spring, bulbs can be planted. Bulbs will be better planted in early spring. This is because the bulbs won’t be in cold, wet soil for as long. Lilies can be planted deep as they will be rooted from their stem above the bulb as well as below, and from experience, shallower bulbs always yield poorly.
Lilies are as fastidious about drainage as any plant can be, as bulbs which have gone beyond moist to waterlogged are guaranteed to rot, and the technique of putting the bulb on a coarse grit bed within the planting hole is still valid for all soils that are more than a little loamy. Given that they like their flowers in the sun and their roots cool and in the shade, they are happiest amongst low growing perennials. Lilies are best planted in groups of three to five with about 15 to 20cm spacing.
Lilies in Pots
Lilies may well be the best bulb for growing in a pot. A deep pot means the necessary good drainage is provided, and a pot full of budding lilies can be pushed into a gap in a border to good effect or even placed beside a door to make the most of the scent. For a 30cm pot, 15cm of grit in the bottom and 3 to 5 bulbs with 15cm to 20cm of perfect planting depth should do the trick. For a gardener on chalk, orientals in a pot of ericaceous compost are the best bet for growing them, as they take the drying out of potted life much better than any other bulb. Once the buds show, water them well and switch to a tomato feed every two weeks.
Seasonal Care
Caring for lilies is pleasantly simple. The taller species may snap, so it’s good to provide support for them. Deadhead flowers, but avoid cutting the leaves and stems until they start turning yellow. The foliage supports the flower growth for the coming year. Lilies prefer settled soil and a well established clump, and are best left alone. A good spring soil mulch helps, too. Every few years a clump can be dug and divided. Lilies are best not disturbed, and divisons should be replanted quickly to avoid them drying too much.
Lily Beetle
The scarlet lily beetle is the only pest to deal with when growing lilies, and presents a not too difficult problem. The small red beetle can totally strip the leaves off a lily in a couple weeks. Regularly checking the plants and removing the beetles by hand is effective for small collections. The scarlet beetle can be a pain to catch as it drops to the ground, so it’s better to catch it with a container or hand below the plant. Lilies can be targeted by slug and aphid pests, but these pests are much less of a problem.
Lilies and Cats
It is worth noting, in the garden or as cut flowers in the home, true lilies should be avoided if your household has cats, as every part is highly toxic to cats, and even a small amount, as a cat brushes by, or as a cat grooms stipes from its furs, can cause kidney failure. Similarly, as true lilies have the potential to be hazardous, there are other flowers that look similar to lilies and are safe.
Lilies for Cutting
Another benefit is that a whole bunch of lilies will fragrance a whole room for days, as well as lasting about ten days after the first bud blossoms, when cut. It is safe to trim the stem to about a third of its length, and many people snip the anthers of each blossoming flower to avoid the fabric-pollen stain. A good tip is that if there is a stain, you should lift it away with a piece of tape, instead of a wet cloth.