Oriental lilies are tropical looking beauties that add a wide variety of color and fragrance to the garden and are easy to care for. They can withstand days of steady rain along with temperatures that range from 30 Celsius (over 85 F) during the day to 5 C (41 F) lows at night, making them ideal for cooler summer locations.
Table of Contents
Examples of the vibrant colors of Oriental lilies include Joyful, which is bubblegum pink with yellow stripes and red spots. Red Empire has deep scarlet red petals trimmed with a thin white edge. Rio Negro has purplish red ruffled blooms. Star Gazer is the most common Oriental with white edged petals, wide crimson stripes and speckles. Most range in size from three to four feet tall with thick stems.
Bulbs can be planted in spring or fall. Fall planting is recommended for the following summer. Spring bulbs will not bloom as easily. Starter plants from the greenhouse, planted in spring will blossom in late July or August. Seeding is not recommended for any lilies, they take several years to reach the flowering stage.
Place bulbs with the tip facing upward for proper growth, taking care to follow the depth instructions and soil recommendations. Oriental bulbs can be planted anytime from early to spring to before frost settles in the ground.
Pick a sunny location for your Orientals. Dig a hole a little deeper than the depth of the starter plant leaving room to add new, moist potting soil and a thin layer of bone meal before placing the lily. Cover with more potting soil until the root ball is buried and pat the soil down lightly. Water your lily immediately and fertilize weekly.
Orientals can be planted in mass beds or with other flowers to add texture and variety to garden spaces. They are quite resistant to insects and disease.
Transplanting is easy with these hardy beauties and can be done at anytime during the growing season.
Like all lilies, Orientals like warm hands and cool feet. Water at the base of the plant, not the foliage. Adding ground cover plants or mulch at the base will also help in cooling the roots. Staking lilies exposed to wind will secure the stems from breaking.
The huge petals (tepals) can last anywhere from two to three weeks. If left in the garden, stamens intact, gardeners can enjoy both the heavenly fragrance and gorgeous blooms. To keep blooms for a longer period, stamens can be removed which does take away the scent but removes the possibility of the pollen staining hands and clothing.
Orientals make lovely bouquets. When cutting the flowers, leave at least one third of the plant in the garden to ensure the perennial will return. Lilies benefit from being cut back in the fall as opposed to spring. Allow the plant to die down naturally for vibrant flowers the following summer. When the foliage turns brown, cut the stems to ground level to avoid the possibility of plant disease.
Oriental lilies are vibrant, fragrant and hardy enough that flower gardeners in Alberta can enjoy these gems of nature.
Sources:
Lois Hole, ‘Lois Hole’s Perennial Favorites’ (accessed July 1, 2010)
Thelilygarden.com (accessed July 1, 2010)
Most homeowners have probably spent hours looking at the different types of garden seeders. You may have even come across…
When it comes to vehicle lovers, cleaning their cars on a regular basis is essential to maintaining the paint job's…
Gas chainsaws are the perfect tool for a variety of outdoor tasks, including chopping up logs for firewood, clearing brush…
A home can be a daunting project, one that takes some time and energy to maintain. With hard work, determination,…
Today ginger is grown all over tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, in parts of Africa and South America, and…
Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and growing onions is a snap in the home…