Different Kinds Of Lilies For Amateur Professional Landscaper
Difficult or temperamental lilies. No doubt it will he helpful to discuss some of the specific vagaries of a few of our more difficult or temperamental
Lilium auratum is actually a very easy lily to grow and flower, but it is a rather difficult one to keep. This is largely be-cause of its liability to mosaic infection. Consequently it must be protected by relative isolation and by regular spraying. In my experience a planting depth of 8 to 12 inches is best, though if the ground is soggy or very heavy more shallow planting may be safer; generally the bulbs tend to find their own level and to pull themselves down further if they need greater depth. This is the one lily, more than any other, that rodents prefer; moles, chipmunks, woodchucks, all will go after them, and if your garden abounds in any of these it will be well to protect the bulbs. With these precautions, it is an easy-to-grow and magnificent lily.
Lilium duchartrei comes from the Tibetan borderland, and its problem is purely one of the right lo-cation. It is a beautiful early-July flowering lily with tall slender stems that bear tiers of recurred white blooms delicately flecked with violet. It seems to like a rather dry situation but at the same time one that is acid and well supplied with humus. In its natural environment it generally grows in full sun, but here it seems to prefer light shade.
Lilium formosanum like auratum, is easy to flower and highly adjustable to a wide variety of garden conditions. However, it is more liable to mosaic infection than almost any other lily and is quite often affected by basal rot. The precautions regarding both these diseases should be followed. Fortunately the bulbs are most inexpensive and so this lily can be handled as a biennial or triennial.
Lilium giganteum comes from the Indian jungles and its problem here is one of environment. It doesn’t like our eastern and midwestern hot dry summers but is quite happy on the Pacific Coast. It needs quite heavy shade, though it likes some sun, and a rich black muck or loam to which humus has been added generously; it also likes water and more water. Strangely enough, it is tolerant of lime, and apparently.it is winter hardy though a mulch is advisable if you can,not rely upon a blanket Of snow. Young bulbs are more easy to establish than mature ones and should be planted with their tips at the surface of the ground.
Lilium japonicum is the loveliest of the pink lilies and one of the most beautiful plants in existence; but it is quite capricious in this country. Bulbs do not travel well and should be examined on arrival. It is highly subject to mosaic and should be more or less isolated and sprayed regularly with nicotine. Basal rot is also a problem, though not a major one. I believe it is more adjustable to environmental variations than is commonly supposed. Its natural home is in light shade along the borders of brooks, and it is advisable to simulate this rather moist location if possible. However, it also seems to do quite well in fairly dry soil and seems to like a location that suits blueberries. It definitely prefers an acid soil.
Lilium belloggi is from our own Pacific Coast and, though moderately difficult, is not nearly so capricious as some others from that region. It flowers around the beginning of July and the delicate pink recurred blooms, with their fine maroon flecking and the yellow stripe down the center of each petal, are unbelievably beautiful. It’s probably quite susceptible to mosaic and it’s well to run no risk on this score. It likes cool moist soil with plenty of humus, preferably woods soil. The ground should he shaded, but the stems should he in full sun. Dwarf azaleas or rhododendrons should be suitable companion plants.
Lilium martagon and Lilium martagon album are European lilies. The type is a soft rosy lilac, while the albino form is one of the most delicately lovely of all lilies. They are highly resistant to mosaic, so this is not a problem; but both are liable to basal rot infection. Disinfect the bulbs before planting and do not plant them where lilies have previously rotted. They seem to prefer a rather heavy loam that is well limed and supplied with humus. Drainage is imperative and manure should be avoided.
Lilium nepalense comes from the Himalayas and is so little known here that it is difficult to give specific requirements. It should be perfectly hardy, even more so than in England where it is widely grown in the open. The main difficulty with it seems to be due to its wandering stem, which often travels underground so far that the mother bulb is exhausted before the stem finally emerges. Gravel placed directly under the bulb and a collar of zinc around it will help. If the bulbs are planted close to the surface and the soil filled in around them as they begin to emerge, this wandering tend-ency can be more or less controlled. This may seem like a good deal of bother, but nepalense is a very rare lily and a real beauty which many gardeners are anxious to grow.
Lilium philadelphicum is our eastern woodland lily and is fairly widespread, but it is not easy in cultivation. It prefers a dry, almost parched, highly acid soil and is better for some shade, though it is commonly seen growing in full and brilliant sun in the cinders of a railway embankment. It is liable to mosaic infection and to be kept should be given relative isolation.
Lilium testaceum is a famous lily and a beauty, and there never have been enough bulbs for all those who want them. Its difficulty is due to its liability to basal rot. New bulbs should be examined closely and should be disinfected before they are planted. Avoid a location where other bulbs have rotted and don’t use manure for at least several years after planting; after that it may be tried if thoroughly rotted, though it’s just as well avoided. It’s advisable to disinfect soil in which testaceum 13 to grow if there’s any question of there being basal rot spores in the ground. With this lily, large bulbs are preferable to small ones.
Lilium wardi are cool outdoor plants that originated from Tibet and is closely related to Lilium duchartrei; although the latter prefers shaded areas as a flowering house plant. It flowers in August and the color is soft rose flecked with purple. It seems to prefer a highly acid soil with an ample supply of humus, but it cannot stand too much moisture. It is liable to mosaic infection and should be given both relative isolation and regular spraying to prevent trouble from the virus.
Lilium washingtonianum is another West Coast lily and has similar requirements to Lilium kellogg’, though it prefers a stiffer loam. Bulbs do not always travel well and it is frequently injured byt mosaic, from which it should be guarded.