Flash bulbs!
When it comes to adding dazzling colour to your borders, nothing beats brilliant lilies
THERE’S a park in my neighbourhood that I often walk through with my dog. I usually stroll across the grass, but in summer I deviate towards a small walled garden, where the herbaceous borders are punctuated by large clumps of zingy orange lilies.
I’m not the only one to be enticed by these stately, elegant and dramatic flowers. They look as though they could deliver a humdinger of a scent, yet on more than one occasion I’ve seen people stoop over a bloom, breathe in deeply, but then move on with a look of disappointment.
Sadly, while most lilies have the kind of looks that will turn heads, not all pack a heady perfume. The ones in my local park are Asiatic lilies, varieties noted for their bold, beautiful flowers but have little or no fragrance. On the positive side, there are plenty that do smell wonderful. Turk’s cap, regal and trumpet lilies have flowers that boast a wide range of scents.
Now is the time to get planting if you want to enjoy the colour and fragrance of lilies this summer. Pop bulbs into the ground or large containers and shoots will soon appear, turning into robust stems that will carry multiple flower heads from early summer until the first frosts, depending on the variety. For strong scents, you can’t beat Lilium ‘Muscadet’ and ‘Nymph’, whose yellow and pink-striped trumpets have cinnamon notes. The pure white, sweetly fra- grant flowers of Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ measure 8in across and are held on 4ft stems. In my opinion, the headiest of all flowers belong to Lilium ‘ Stargazer’, an Oriental type bred in the US during the 1970s. A common ingredient of florists’ bouquets, its pink flowers with darker spots and white edges have a rich, exotic scent that is loved by some but can be overpowering. If that’s too much, head to the lighter end of the scent scale. ‘Maroon King’ is a gorgeous martagon lily with red petals, and ‘Triumphator’ has huge trumpet- shaped white flowers with purple centres. Lilies will thrive in sun or partial shade and do best if sheltered from st rong winds. Taller varieties are ideal against walls, fences or planted at the back of borders, while shorter forms can be used to punctuate displays. Set bulbs in holes three times their length – if you have clay soil, sprinkle horticultural grit at the bottom to i mprove dr a i nage a nd prevent bulbs from rotting. For maximum impact, plant bulbs in groups of three to five, giving them plenty of room to grow by spacing 8in apart. Another option is to grow them in containers – they look brilliant in tall terracotta pots. Cover drainage holes with pieces of broken pot to prevent them getting clogged up, then half-fill the container with compost. Arrange three to five bulbs on top before covering with compost so that the bulbs are 4in below the surface. Water well. Compact lilies don’t need staking but those with taller or multiheaded stems might snap under their own weight, so need support.
Water regularly and remove fading flowers. Cut the main stem to ground level when it turns brown in autumn, then cover with 3in of compost or leaf mould to insulate from frost. If you are growing them in pots, move them into a greenhouse or shed. Keep a close eye out for lily beetles – these shiny, scarlet pests can defoliate plants. Check daily and squash any that you find, along with their red eggs and larvae.
Finally, a warning to cat-owners: all parts of lilies are toxic to felines. I have owned cats for 20 years and none of them has ever suffered from lily poisoning, but err on the side of caution if you are worried.