Plant breathtaking tree lilies

These stately, elegant blooms will stand tall in summer, infusing your garden with vibrant hues

The postponement of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show until autumn has denied gardeners their fix of floral fragrance – that burst of scent that stops you in your tracks upon stepping foot in the floral marquee. So why not grow a spectacular tower of blooms at home that’ll pack as much flower power and perfume as an award-winning show exhibit?

Even if you’re new to gardening, you won’t go wrong with tree lilies. Their colossal, triffid-like stems will reach for the skies, dwarfing garden fences in less than a year. Every July onwards, tree lilies bear up to 30 enormous flowers per bulb, with most emitting a powerful fragrance that’ll be the talk of your neighbourhood! If you’re a fan of flowers that are unashamedly showy and deliciously scented, it’s time to get bulbs planted now.

WHAT IS A TREE LILY?

Tree lilies are a relatively new innovation that have taken the market by storm over the past decade. These giants are the result of years of plant breeding, which saw tall Oriental lilies crossed with showy trumpet types, creating supercharged monsters that knock rivals for six when it comes to vigour, fragrance and an abundance of flowers.

Energy-packed bulbs produce fast-growing stems that soar to 1.5m (5ft) high in their first season, hitting heights of up to 2.4m (8ft) in subsequent years. The spectacle of these gigantic displays becomes more impressive as years go by.

Sold under a variety of names, including skyscraper lilies and Goliath lilies, as well as tree lilies, bulbs are fully hardy and thrive in containers and borders. They’re ideal for plugging gaps to add height at the rear of flower beds; for growing through shrubs, hiding walls and fences and for screening off unsightly areas of the garden during the warmer months.