Lilies in the Landscape
The Oriental lily is one variety of lily that has huge flowers with petals that are ruffled and reflex back. Many are also fragrant, such as 'Casa Blanca'. 'Stargazer' is a pinkish red with crisp white margins. 'Miss Rio' blooms earlier than other Oriental lilies and grows only 2 feet tall.
Resembling the Easter lily is 'Regale,' a Chinese trumpet lily with white petals and a deep maroon-color reverse. 'South Pacific' is a hybrid from the Easter lily. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and is very fragrant.
'Lemon Pixie', an Asiatic lily, is short and compact, growing only 10 to 14 inches tall.
The best time to plant lilies is in the fall so the bulbs will develop a strong root system before winter. However, these bulbs, unlike tulips and daffodils, also can be planted in the spring.
Lily bulbs vary considerably in size. Inexpensive bulbs tend to be smaller, and the smaller bulbs will have fewer flowers the first year. A rule of thumb when planting lilies is to plant them three times the depth of their height. Space the small ones about 12 inches apart; the large, tall-growing species about 18 inches apart.
Be careful when planting lily bulbs-you don't want to break off any scales or any shoots that may have already grown out of the bulb. If these shoots are broken off, the bulbs won't flower that year.
Some bulbs have contractile roots, which pull the bulb deeper into the soil making sure that it is always growing at the proper depth.
Water Lilies
With round leaves that float gracefully in large water gardens or small tub gardens, water lilies are easy to grow and bloom in many bright colors.
A tropical variety, 'Red Flare,' blooms only at night. One hardy miniature variety, Helvola, is perfect for small gardens-it grows only about 1 foot in diameter.
One difference between hardy and tropical water lilies is the way the flowers rise out of the foliage. Hardy water lily flowers float on the water's surface; flowers of tropical water lilies are supported on strong stems that rise a few to several inches out of the water.
Water lilies are available from many mail-order sources:
- Lilypons Water Gardens, 6800 Lilypons Rd., P.O. Box 10, Buckeystown, MD 21717; 800-765-5459.
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