Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Lotsa Lilies
We're in the thick of lily season here. I don't have many plants of the genus Lilium, but have many more called lilies, and some in the family Liliaceae that aren't called lilies. The Hemerocallis fulva (daylily) hybrids are peaking now. I think all mine need to be divided - the flowers were much sparser this year. I also noticed that the scapes seem shorter this year, but I attributed that to the drought before the deluge.
The Lilium hybrids just began flowering a few days ago. Currently, I have one Asiatic, one Orienpet, and two Oriental hybrids. 'Grand Cru' (Asiatic) is almost finished, and 'Oriana' (Orienpet) just began. The Oriental hybrids have fat buds, and I can't wait for that gorgeous fragrance.
Two Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes candida) flowered recently, from newly planted bulbs. Last year's have put up leaves, but so far no flowers.
Hostas, aka Plantain Lilies, are in various stages of bloom. 'Big Mama' (love that name) bloomed several weeks ago. 'Golden Tiara' is at peak now. The big-dark-green-leaved blue-flowered unknown is just getting underway. The rest are yet to come.
I purchased three Gloriosa lilies this year from Brent & Becky's Bulbs, but two of them have only just recently sent up shoots, so it will be a while for flowers on those. The third? I need to dig it up to see if it's rotted.
The lemon lily, or Hemerocallis flava (aka liliasphodelus), bloomed long ago in early June.
My crinum lily didn't bloom last year, and I was surprised that it overwintered outdoors in a pot - we'll see if that blooms later in the fall. Some Nerines (spider lilies, Guernsey lilies) also overwintered outdoors in pots, and they should bloom much later as well.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some.....
2 Comments:
Did I see the word LILLIUM?? I think I have more Lillium than a person should be allowed to have in one place. May I suggest a few...
lillium...."NIPPON"...to my knowlegde only availible thru DUTCH GARDENS catalog. hieght is short at 18" but it makes up for that with a bloom of 10"-12". flower is huge.ivory white with a yellow edge and red edge
lilium....."NERONE"...mine grow 48' tall. 7" bloom of very dark red. The good thing about this one is it hrows small bulblets at the base of each leaf. Once the bulblets grow a leaf and a vey small single root you can pick them off and replant in pots and trans plant before winter. they will bloom the 3rd spring and be full height the 4th spring.
Lillium......"DIZZY"...oriental. extremely fragrant and 8"-10" blooms in my yardsnow white with blood red spots and a darker red brush mark.
EASTER LILLIES...the only reason easter lillies are 18" tall when you buy them in a pot for EASTER is they are sprayed with a growth retardant to keep them short. If planted outside in the garden after 2 years they will revert to their normal nature which is 48"-64" tall.Mine have been in garden 7 years and grow 64"
I am in zone 4A
Thanks for the lily recommendations! I'm going to put Nippon and Dizzy on my list for next year.
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