LILIES on steroids!
Up to 8ft tall. Blooms the size of dinner plates. Intoxicating fragrances. Clear a space for...
BACK in the 1940s, an American plant breeder called Leslie Woodriff decided to cross a wild lily from China with a species from Japan. Due to his endeavours, a unique hybrid was unveiled in 1957. Soaring to 6ft, ‘Black Beauty’ boasted branched stems that carried up to 40 flowers with sweptback petals.
Considered to be the world’s first tree lily, Woodriff’s creation was a big hit and it became the first to be inducted into the North American Lily Society’s hall of fame.
Its introduction more than 60 years ago paved the way for lots of other statuesque varieties that are sometimes described as looking like ‘lilies on steroids’.
Also dubbed goliath, skyscraper or sky-high lilies, tree lilies often reach 4ft or so in their first season but can hit a dizzying 6ft-8ft once established. Their thick trunks are topped by a bushy head of branches that carry up to 30 dinner platesized flowers from mid to late summer. Many pack a rich, intoxicating fragrance.
There is considerable diversity among varieties. Their single or double blooms vary in shape, from open trumpets to those resembling Turk’s cap lilies with swept-back petals. Flowers come in shades of white, yellow, pink and red, often with petals that are striped, edged or spotted a different colour, creating a two-tone effect.
Across the Atlantic, these behemoths are known as orienpets, a portmanteau of oriental and trumpet lilies. This is a nod to the genetic origins of the plant, which have crossed tall, hardy, largeflowered and heavily scented oriental lilies with equally l ofty but more colourful trumpet lilies.
HAPPY in sun or partial shade, tree lilies like a spot sheltered from strong wi n d s . T h e i r height makes them perfect for growing against walls, fences and hedges, or for planting at the back of borders. They look great in cottage garden displays or rubbing shoulders with other exuberant plants in exotic schemes.
For a towering spectacle this summer, set bulbs in holes three times their own depth – planting them deeply will give some protection against frost over winter. Space bulbs about 8 in apart to give them plenty of room to grow and add a little horticultural grit to the base of holes to prevent rotting in wet conditions.
At this point it’s worth sounding a note of caution to pet owners. According to the RSPCA and Cats Protection, all parts of a lily plant are toxic to our furry companions, including the bulbs, leaves, stems and pollen from the flowers.
If you own cats or are at all worried, it’s probably best to avoid lilies altogether.
Another option is to raise tree lilies in containers. A single bulb is fine in a 10 in pot, while three will put on a great show in one measuring 18in across.
To provide stability in a breeze, use a heavy container and gritty John Innes No 2 compost. Place in a prominent position or use two to frame a sunny doorway.
Water plants regularly during the growing season and feed every couple of weeks in summer – use a fertiliser that’s high in potassium, such as Chempak No 4, Vitax Q4 or a generic liquid tomato feed. Keep plants looking tidy and prevent seed heads forming by removing individual flowers as the petals start to fall.
I’d generally advise supporting lilies that reach 4ft or more with stout bamboo canes, especially if they are in exposed plots. However, as the stems of tree lilies can measure up to 2 in across, they are generally self- supporting and only need staking for peace of mind, or if subjected to a bout of wet, windy weather.
As for pests, keep a close eye out for red lily beetles. These ¼in-long insects eat leaves, stems, buds and flower petals. Cast your eye over plants on a daily basis and remove any that you find. And check under leaves for clusters of their red eggs and larvae, which are delightfully covered in their own, jelly- like black excrement.
Cut t runks to t he ground in autumn. If you have free-draining soil, leave bulbs in place but insulate from cold by spreading a 3 in deep layer of mulch over the surface. Those with claggier soil should lift, clean and store bulbs in a frost-free place. Move pots into a greenhouse, shed or front porch.