Lilium hybrids

Lilium in the garden of Linda Macaulay in Sydney

I always thought Lilium, with their flamboyant trumpet- or funnel-shaped flowers and dramatic stamens, were too tricky to grow in Sydney, but a few years ago I noticed in a garden nearby to me a clump of tall, white-flowered Lilium that bloomed magnificently every November and was inspired to put in some myself to give some pizzazz to an area of the garden devoted to white flowers and green-and-white variegated foliage along with dark purple blooms and foliage. I was also given some red ones and a pink one by friends who insisted they would grow, and I was delighted to discover that I was wrong in thinking they were no good for Sydney gardens!

Lilium in the former garden of the late Pamela Fowell in Sydney

Lilium in the former garden of the late Pamela Fowell in Sydney

There are many species and hybrids of Lilium, and they are divided into nine divisions. Not all are suited to our climate. The white Lilum longiflorum is said to be one of the best species for warmer climates, as well as various hybrids: the Asiatic and the Oriental being the two main categories. The latter are thought to be the most spectacular and have larger flowers and fragrance, which the Asiatics generally lack, though they in turn have the brighter and more varied colours. Hybrids between the two exist, capturing the best of both types! Hybrids with longiflorum in their makeup seem to return year after year in Sydney and make good clumps. The crosses between Asiatic types and Lilium longiflorum are called LA hybrids: they have a slight perfume from Lilium longiflorum and are vigorous in growth. The time of flowering varies but is generally in November or December. Most prefer a position in full sun but appreciate some shade around their base; mulching will also help to keep the roots cool and moist. The plants also enjoy air circulation around them. They should be planted in late autumn or winter, and they should be put in the ground as soon as you buy them as the bulbs have no protective coating. Dwarf cultivars are suited to growing in pots. Watering is important once the foliage has emerged. Use a general-purpose fertiliser at the time of planting, and a high-nitrogen one as the shoots appear. They may need staking to avoid wind damage as the unbranched stems can grow tall. Protect from snails. Divide and replant immediately when they become overcrowded. They make good cut flowers.