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Something about Lilies, or...... While perusing garden catalogs this winter and talking to friends and fellow Master Gardeners, I realized that many of us in Virginia don't know much about "summer bulbs", although we all go overboard with spring bulbs. And as I determined to study this area of the plant kingdom a little harder, I found myself beginning to wonder if all summer bulbs were simply some sort of "lily". Consider this sampling: Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies, Peruvian lily, Foxtail lily, Lily-of-the-Nile, Spider lily, Blood lily, Calla lily, Gloriosa lily, Rain lily, Pineapple lily, Aztec lily, Amazon lily, Magic lily to say nothing of that workhorse of a summer plant, the daylily! No wonder it seemed so confusing. But after a bit of research, here's a way to start becoming familiar with this often overlooked source of pleasure. True lilies, of which there are many, are hardy in our area and can be planted in the fall as well as the spring. Daylilies, of course, are really tubers, and can be planted almost any reasonable time. But most of the bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes collectively referred to as "summer bulbs" originate from warmer climates, and are not hardy here. They must be dug up and either stored in a cool, dry, frost-free location over winter, or a few, such as Amarcrinum, can do well, staying green, in a well-lighted place like a sun porch. Most familiar to us in central Virginia are the hardy true lilies, so regal, elegant and richly perfumed. The cut flowers can last up to three weeks. There are dozens of species and hundreds of hybrids, a wide range of colors, and a range of bloom times, so that you can have lilies blooming from May until fall. Lilies prefer sun to part shade, and adequate moisture. As they are heavy feeders, a spring feeding of a slow-release fertilizer gets them off to a good start. Lily stems are quite sturdy and seldom need staking, unless they're in a bit too much shade and need to lean toward the sun. Although well-grown lilies aren't bothered much by disease, they are, unfortunately, quite tasty to a wide variety of four-legged creatures, including rabbits, gophers, deer and mice. They want to be guarded, like the royalty they are! A few of the other summer-blooming "lilies" worth trying this year are the following: Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria sp) - 2-3' height, bloom in mid-summer, nice range of colors, great cut flower, and, once established in the right location, will multiply on their own. Yes, this means they can overwinter here, as long as they're deeply planted and well mulched. Aztec lily (Sprekelia formosissima) - 12-18", usually blooming in early summer, with established plants sometimes blooming again later in the summer. The bloom is large (5") and blood-red, rather orchid-like and quite dramatic. Strap-like leaves, similar to daffodil foliage. Definitely tropical, nice for a mixed border or in a container. Foxtail lily (Eremurus sp.) Depending on the variety, height and color will vary. A commonly available cultivar is Eremurus bungei 'Baker' which is yellow, 2-3'. Other colors are white, salmon pink, light and dark orange. The flower is really a series of tiny flowers on a stalk resembling a "fox tail", adding a very dramatic vertical accent in May-June. If planted deeply, well-mulched, and not disturbed, this tuber can be overwintered in the garden in our area. Pineapple lily (Eucomis sp) - 18-24" bloom spike, covered with hundreds of fragrant florets, and topped with a tuft of green leaves. Colors range from white with a greenish hue to creamy to yellow to greenish flowers, to purple, green and white. The leaves are long, broad, glossy light green. Very striking in either the garden or containers. Flowers for a month or more, followed by green seedpods so that the plant is showy for three months or so. Most varieties bloom midsummer; E. autumnalis blooms a little later and has wavy leaf margins. Spider lily (Hymenocallis narcissifolia) - 2-3', clusters of white, lily-shaped, green-throated flowers surrounded by a halo of recurved petals. Sculptural, fragrant, pest-proof, great for containers or the garden, but not hardy here. Fresh Air
Garden Designs, (804) 449-1888
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