Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Lily. |
Common name |
Lily, lily. |
Family |
Liliaceae. |
Origin |
Europe, southern Asia, North America. |
Dimensions |
Up to 1.50 m depending on the species. |
Foliage |
Lapsed. |
Bloom |
Trumpet or star-shaped flowers appear from May-June until September depending on the variety. |
Exposure |
Partially shaded or sunny. |
Ground |
Draining, rich in organic matter, non-limestone. |
Rusticity |
Up to around -20°C. |
Often represented with its vertical stem and its well-erect shape, the lily is always very elegant.
Whether white, pink, orange or even purple, this flower, whose shape also changes depending on the variety, seduces gardeners with its timeless beauty.
Where to plant lilies in a garden?
In your garden, find a place that is well
sheltered from the wind and sunny
(although prefer partial shade if you live in a region where the sun burns all day in summer).
The earth must be fresh and humid.
If you opt for planting in a pot, choose a container that is deep enough and at least 15 cm in diameter.
Regarding the substrate, mix topsoil, sand and leaf mold.
Read alsoThe Hemerocallis, an ephemeral flower with spectacular flowering
When to plant lilies?
The ideal planting time is in
spring
but this data can be refined depending on the variety of lily you have chosen: if the Asiatic lily is planted in early spring, between the beginning of March and mid-April or in October, the Madonna lily is best planted in late summer or early autumn.
Autumn is also a popular planting time for lilies, for earlier flowering.
How to plant lilies?
Before installing them in the ground, check that the bulbs of your lilies are firm and fleshy!
Copyright (c) 2021 Sarycheva Olesia/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Follow these different steps and you will soon have magnificent flowers before your eyes:
Before placing them in the ground, check that the bulbs of your lilies are firm, fleshy and that they have
very distinct scales.
Don't wait too long to plant them after purchasing them;
Loosen the soil, remove stones;
If you fear that your soil is too calcareous (which lilies do not like apart from the Madonna lily), add a little heather soil and well-decomposed compost.
If the soil seems heavy, line the bottom of the holes with draining gravel;
Place the bulbs 10 to 15 cm deep (3.5 cm for the Madonna lily) and maintain a distance of 20 cm between each bulb;
Fill in the holes, pack gently, water;
Plant a small sign to visualize the location of your bulbs.
Do lilies grow back?
The lily is a perennial plant that can be enjoyed
for years.
You can divide lily plants every 3 or 4 years, in spring.
Then replant to obtain new plants.
How to properly maintain lilies?
The lily is a perennial plant that can be enjoyed for years.
Copyright (c) 2017 Gardens by Design/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
If the lily requires almost no maintenance, it would benefit from these few tips:
During the entire growth and flowering period, keep the soil slightly moist;
Mulch to preserve soil moisture throughout the winter;
Stake discreetly
to maintain the erect shape of the lilies, which lose their beautiful appearance when they bend under the weight of the flowers and to allow them to benefit from better resistance to the wind;
Remove faded flowers but do not cut off the leaves until they have completely faded, otherwise you risk jeopardizing the bulb's replenishment of reserves.
What are our favorite lily varieties?
The Asiatic lily (Lilium spp), whose flowers appear in clusters at the top and open into stars.
Copyright (c) 2022 Donna Bollenbach/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
There are around a
hundred species of lilies
and many horticultural varieties.
They are distinguished by the color and shape of the flowers, the flowering period or even their use.
Among them :
The Madonna lily or white lily (
Lilium candidum
), with very fragrant flowers, which bloom in June and July;
The Asiatic lily (
Lilium spp
), whose flowers appear in clusters at the top and open into stars;
The royal lily (
Lilium regale
) whose very elongated
trumpet flowers
develop between July and August;
The dwarf lily 'Orange Pixie', which measures 40 cm in height, is well suited to planting in pots, as is the oriental lily 'Garden Party';
The botanical lily (
Lilium superbum
), the largest lily, reaching up to 3 m in height.
How to keep lilies longer in a vase?
If you are cutting a few lilies to make a pretty bouquet, cut the bottom of the stems at an angle.
Change the water in the vase every day.