Still the same, lilies stayed in their family: A Lilium ‘White Henry’, a selection of the species; B L. henryii; C L. ‘Leslie Woodruff’; D Orienpet lily hybrid.

 

Even though the taxonomists have taken many plants out of Liliaceae, there are still exquisite relatives, especially in the genus Lilium itself. True or garden lilies may be grown in among other summer perennials. However, the hybrids are prone to fungal diseases and need good air circulation— especially at ground level—and well-drained soil, so how and where they are grown is crucial. I usually plant the bulbs in fall on their sides so that water does not collect in the depression at the top. The stem will come up straight. Dig a hole four to six inches deep. If the soil tends to stay damp all the time in the general area, amend it with a fibrous organic material like coir, and mix in coarse sand or chicken grit.

The lily hybrids need full sun. Some species like Lilium martagon are more forgiving, tolerating a bit of shade. L. formosanum can reach eight feet and bear large white trumpet flowers followed by candelabra fruits that can be cut and dried for indoor decoration.

There are divisions of garden lilies (Lilium spp.). There are the Asiatic hybrids with out-facing flowers; and some martagon hybrids (like ‘Mrs. R. O. Backhouse’) with small, “Turk’s cap” down-facing flowers bearing recurved petals; candidum hybrids resembling parents that include the Madonna lily; American hybrids from North American species; longiflorum hybrids with the Easter lily in the mix; trumpet and aurelian hybrids bred from the Chinese species like L. regale, L. henryi, and L. aurelianse with large, slightly nodding, flaring flowers that are fragrant and more so in the evening; Oriental hybrids based on Japanese native species, including the famous large-flowered ‘Stargazer’ with white flowers striped and spotted dark pink; Orienpet hybrids, heat-tolerant crosses between the orientals and trumpets or aurelians; and the true, pre-hybridized species.

Lily bulbs in the garden can be dug up and divided when they are dormant, and may even need to be split apart if they create many offsets. The plants can also be grown from seeds. They germinate in two different ways: Some, like L. formosanum develop a single green leaf soon after fresh seeds are sown. Others, like L. martagon, do not make a leaf, but first develop a tiny underground bulb. After a season of chilling and dormancy (in the refrigerator or outdoors), they produce their first leaf.

In the garden, hybrid ‘African Queen’; Lilium ‘White Henry’; and L. henryi.