Home » Plants & Animals » Alpines and Bulbs » Species Lilium Time

Species Lilium Time

© Gary Buckley

Where ever you happen to be gardening, there is always room for species Liliums. Regardless of which hemisphere you live in, species Liliums are reasonably easy and rewarding garden plants. Most growers and planters alike agree that to grow them well; generally one thinks of them as thriving best in slightly acid, well drained soil. To give them that extra helping hand, some folks suggest planting the bulbs on a handful of sharp sand. Also, the planting area should be well mulched.

For readers in Australia who are thinking of buying and planting Liliums, might I suggest that you hurry; for the planting time is waning.

For folks north of the equator, now is a good time to be thinking which plants you would like to buy this coming fall and winter; planning ahead is half the battle.

At the end of this Article are suppliers for those living in Australia who may wish to buy flowering size bulbs rather than wait until seeds flower.

Lilium auratum, native of Japan. I think this is perhaps the best known Lilium here in Australia. This shows up in a lot of expensive flower arrangements. Flowers mid summer. Of the two principle forms, both can be bought and grown here in Oz.

Lilium auratum platyphyllum as it is sold here, should be Lilium auratum var.platyphyllum; but let's not get nit picky. This is a fairly vigorous white flowering plant, having glorious flowers of great size with an intoxicating heady perfume. When buying flowering size bulbs, please bear in mind the length of time it took to produce this bulb. You are investing in your future. Flowers in early to mid summer. Needs rich soils and good drainage.Combine this with a good sunny position for a winning combination.

Liluim canadense is native to America and as John Bryan tells us, is known to Europe where it was first introduced around 1800. As this is really a gardeners guide to which bulbs to buy, perhaps I'll spare you my woffle. This is an exquisitely beautiful species, having pendant bells with slightly recurving petal tips in whorled candelabra heads. Needs and prefers a somewhat moist, peaty soil.

Lilium concolor is native to central China. An easy and adaptable Lily. Having strong slender stems carrying several small up facing blooms. The flower colour varies from rich yellow to vibrant orange.

Lilium davidii comes from western China. This really stands out in the garden bed with it's tall stout stems of many reflexed orange flowers; faintly dotted. Slightly pendent pedicels give a wonderful waterfall effect on established plants. Late summer flowering.

The copyright of the article Species Lilium Time in Alpines and Bulbs is owned by . Permission to republish Species Lilium Time in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.