Lilium Culture and FAQs

Solaris Farms™ 2010
Hardy Hemerocallis, Paeonia and Lilium

Different kinds of Lilium

Species…Plants that occur nature, many from Asia, Eruope, and North America. Contained in this group is a wide variety of plant forms, flower forms, color and variability of culture. Some may be easily grown in northern gardens, other require very specific cultural practices.

Trumpet…Large/tall plants that often require staking. They are of easy culture and grow quickly. Flowers are very fragrant and have a trumpet form. Many new hybrids are being developed and growing choice of color is making its way on to the market.

Asiatic…Wide ranging in color, form and size, the Asiatics are the most commonly seen in northern gardens. This group tends to be the hardiest and easiest to grow of all the Lilium. Flowers may be large and face upward or small and carried in a variety of ways. All tend to be beautiful and it is likely one can find what they are looking for in this group alone.

Oriental…While we don’t sell these, they may be grown in the north in protected places. They tend to be the least hardy and of the Lilium and often the plants dwindle away in the north. Some cultivars may be of exception. They are, however, extremely fragrant and beautiful.

Orienpet…Typically large and tall plants, the Orienpets are hybrids between a trumpet and an oriental Lilium. Flowers are large and waxy, often very fragrant. Many color schemes are coming available on the market and all are beautiful additions to the garden. Prices are often higher for this group due to demand and relative difficulty in developing new hybrids. They are hardy and among many a gardener’s favorite plant.

Hybrids…Many other hybrid groups exist beyond what is listed above: L.A. hybrids (longiflorum x asiatic); Lankongense hybrids (langkongense x asiatic, etc…); Asiapet (Asiatic x Oriental). All beautiful and most have proven hardy in the north.

Lilies are generally of easy culture, if a couple of key requirements are met. The number one need of all lilies is a well drained soil that will retain some moisture. A wet soil placement is a death wish for lilium bulbs. A wide range of soils may grow lilies well and this includes clay. Clay does, unfortunately, retain water for long periods, so it is wise to not plant lilies in areas that are of low elevation in combination with this type of soil. Adding compost, sand and other aerating materials to clay will help lilies to perform better in the garden. In a perfect world, soil that is friable and has rich organic matter would work best, but garden soils range far and wide. Even with this in mind, Lilium will grow well in very average soils.

Lilium love sun, but can be easily placed in semi-shade conditions. Shadier placements will produce longer stems that may not be as strong as a plant in full sun. The plants are adaptable, however, and will respond nicely to less well lit environments. Afternoon shade is actually beneficial since it doesn’t allow the soil around the bulbs to become so hot and dry. Lilium do not like hot soils, in fact, Orientals and many species prefer cool soil conditions.

Planting

Lilium can be planted in both spring and fall. Spring planted bulbs will produce shorter stems and often less flowers the first year, due to lack of an established root system. Fall planting is preferable, since root growth occurs before growth initiates in the spring and the plants produce more robust stems and greater numbers of flowers.

Again, select a site that is well drained. Dig a hole that will easily accommodate the bulb an allow spreading of its roots. The hole should be 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) deep for smaller bulbs and for the larger trumpets and orienpets 4-6 inches (10-15cm). We prefer the six inch depth for Lilium that produce very long stems, as this allows for a sturdier foundation to support the plant. The soil at the bottom of the hole should be loosed another six inches so that new rooting can occur easily.

Spacing of the bulbs should be a minimum of 12 to 18 inches if they are to be planted in groups. Remember, that the single bulbs will give rise to many new bulbs, incoming years, to create a larger clump formation. Many gardeners will plant Lilium in large groups by digging a very large hole and placing the bulbs a various distances within the excavation. This works very well and is often a time saver. Building a slight mound over the planting helps water to drain away and is recommended here in northeast Wisconsin.

Mulching is usually not necessary, but it does help to prevent frost heaving in the first year of growth. If Lilium are grown in hot location, that becomes dry quickly, a mulch can aid in keep the roots cool and moist.

Once the bulbs have been placed in the holes, cover them with soil and lightly pack the soil down. If the soil is dry, a soaking of the soil will help to get them started.

Lilies are a fairly straight forward plant to grow, but a few pointers may be of help. Spring is a wonderful time to enjoy emerging Lilium plants. The gorgeous deep green whorls are beautiful and interesting, they are also incredibly brittle. Carefull marking of plantings is advised so that the emerging plants are not inadvertantly stepped on. Unfortunately, Lilium are favorite meals for both rabbit and deer. Protection from rabbits and deer are especially important in spring, if these critters are problems. Wire cages are affective as are many of the repellents if this is a problem for you.

As summer arrives a quick look at the progress of the Lilium plants is always a good idea. At this time the stems are reaching maturity and flower buds are beginning to show. Very tall stems will likely benefit from staking. Without staking the stems may break or lean as the heavy flowers enlarge and open. Planting Lilium next to fences is an excellent idea, as the fence serves as permant yearly stake. Watering may also be a consideration at this time. Lilium require moist soils at all times in order to perform to their fullest. Soaking the ground is a great way to water, but not overhead watering. Overhead watering can encourage the formation of disease and create the perfect environment for powery mildew.

Autumn is the time to begin cleaning up the once beautiful stems. Once the stems have turned yellow and leaves have dropped they should be cut to the ground and removed from the site. By doing this, any diseases that impacted the plants the previous growing season cannot reinfect the plants in the coming summer. Watering may be necessary if drought is impacting the area. Even if the plants are not visable, they are still growing and making new roots.

Transplanting and Division

Again fall is the key time for dividing and transplanting Lilium. Typically Lilium will need division every 6 or 7 years, some varieties less time others more. The bulbs may be seperated before the clumps reach large size if wanted.

Before transplanting or dividing the plants, have a reason to do so. Are the stems in the clumps smaller and more numerous than they once were? Do you have a new location that you would like to spread the bulbs to? Do you have friends you’d like to share your plants with? These are all great reasons to move and divide the clumps.

Division should occur after the plants have gone dormant (stems above ground have died). When digging the clumps many small bulbs may be attached to the stem below the ground, these may all be separated from the stem and planted singly. The bulbs below the stem will likely be larger and may have many sections. These sections can usually be broken apart by simply applying pressure away from the center of the mass. All of the above mention can now be planted as described in the planting section.

Simple division of the bulbs, as described above, is the most common form of Lilium propagation. Other propagation methods range from planting bulbils (black pea-like proliferations found at the leaf axils on some varieties), tissue culture and bulb scale propagation. Tissue culture is used commercially to propagate many identical plants at once and isn’t likely choice for the average gardener. Bulbils and scale propagation are relatively easy ways to multiply any cultivars one might want more of.

Bulbils are the small black spherical shaped proliferations found along the stem of certain Lilium cultivars. These may be collected just as they begin to drop naturally and should be planted an inch or so below the ground. They will take two to four years to develop into blooming size plants, so be patient.

Bulb Scale propagation is a bit more involved, but basically involves pealing away some of the scales enveloping the bulb and keeping them in a warm damp place for a couple of months. This is usually done in the fall during transplant of the Lilium. After awhile the scales will begin to grow many small bulblets on their surface. These bulblets may be removed after a time and chilled in the refrigerator for three months and then planted in the garden come spring. These will also need to be planted shallow and will require some two to four years to bloom.