Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and their answers

What are lilies?

True lilies from the genus Lilium are perennials that grow from bulbs made up of fleshy segments called scales. Wild lilies (species) are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Many lily hybrids derive from the Asiatic species and are appropriately called asiatic hybrids. These are markets as true clones - from naturally occuring multiplication of the bulbs, from a process called scaling or for high demand types - tissue culture. Trumpet lilies are also marketed as clones, but are more frequently found as strains - lilies grown from seeds that will almost always resemble the parent plants but may vary somewhat from each other since they are not genetic clones. The oriental lilies are elegant, big flowered lilies that derive from species found in Japan and Korea. There are somes species lilies that remain popular and are grown and marketed as strains as well. L. Longiflorum is the popular Easter Lily; while not hardy in northern gardens they are grown by the thousands in greenhouses for the florist tr ade. L. martagon and the martagon hybrids are very winter hardy, having small, dainty "turk's cap" flowers that nod from the tops of the stems. The Regale Lily (L. Regale) is know for its wonderful scent and remains a popular garden flower.

The asiatic hybrids are amoung the most popular and dependable garden varieties. Winter hardy well into Canada they require well drained soils and a winter mulch to prevent frost heaving that may damage the roots. Varieties from 18" to over 5 feet are marketed in all shades of white, pink, lavender, red, yellow and orange; some with spots and brushmarks adding contrast to the blooms. There are no blue lilies. Each lily will produce many blooms that last from a 1-2 weeks each. Since the flowers open over a number of days it is not uncommon for a lily to have flowers open for up to a month each summer.

Bulbs are best acquired in the fall or spring while they are semi-dormant. They should be planted outside or potted and immediately watered. Bulbs should usually be planted 2-3 times deeper than the height of the bulb. Lilies have two root systems, those that grow from the base of the bulb and those that grow from the stems that emerge from the bulbs each summer. The bulb roots will actually pull the lily deeper if needed so they will "self adjust" for bulb depth.

After the bloom season, if you are not hybridizing, it is recommended that you "deadhead" spent flower heads, cutting them off just below the bottom blooms and leaving as much stem as possible for feeding the bulbs. This not only makes your garden look better, but also prevents unwanted seed pods from forming that can rob some energy from the plants.

Much additional culture information can be found in the NALS publication "Let's Grow Lilies".

How are lilies classified botanically?