Lily Species Suitable For Cold Climates

Lilies - a symbol of loyalty and purity

Lily golden

Lilies have been known since ancient times. This flower is considered a symbol of the Virgin Mary, and in many famous paintings she is depicted with a snow-white lily in her hand.

On sale now there are many types of lilies and varieties belonging to different groups. The main thing when choosing a lily for your garden is to pay attention to which of these groups your new acquisition belongs to.

Gardener's guide

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Often you can hear the stories of gardeners about poor flowering, and even about the death of lilies. Many consider the planting material to be the reason for this, but in fact it all lies in the wrongly chosen place for planting, as well as in the acidity of the soil.

Each species has its own preferences, they depend on the conditions of their growth in nature. If we find a place in the garden that is most favorable for the normal development and growth of this particular species, then the plant will thank us with lush flowering and healthy appearance. Consider the climatic conditions of the distribution areas of different species, their requirements for soil conditions, sunlight, air humidity.

Lily white

White lily, or candidum (Lilium candidum). Comes from the eastern regions of the Mediterranean. It is found on stony, limestone or clayey mountain slopes among trees and grasses, so this lily prefers loamy soil with good drainage and with the addition of deciduous humus under the roots.

It develops normally only if lime is present in the soil. Necessarily requires a shallow planting - no deeper than 2-3 cm from the top of the bulb. This lily has a dormant period after flowering, so the best time to plant and transplant a white lily is in late August and early September. The bulbs transplanted at this time have time to take root well before the onset of winter.

The plant leaves in winter with a rosette of leaves appearing in early autumn. To preserve these basal leaves, and the bulbs themselves, in our northwestern regions, we need to shelter the plantings of this lily for the winter with spruce branches or fern leaves. At the same time, the white lily is not afraid of spring frosts. She has no stem roots, only podlukovichnye. These roots are perennial, therefore, it is necessary to protect them, as well as the bulbs, from drying out and breaking during transportation and planting. This rule applies to all lilies, but especially to white ones.

Lily Henry

Lily Henry (L. Henryi). This lily can only grow if there is lime in the soil, as it comes from the mountainous regions of central China. These provinces are characterized by rainy summers and dry autumn. This lily overwinters in the vicinity of St. Petersburg and in our region without shelter. It reproduces well with seeds and babies.

Lily of David (L. Davidii). In the southwestern provinces of China, it was grown as a vegetable plant. Grows on open mountain slopes on rocky soil with the addition of humus. It is a fairly frost-resistant lily, unpretentious and resistant to viruses.

Long-flowered lily

Longiflorum lily, or longiflorum (L. longiflorum). Found naturally only in Japan. It grows on rocky seashores, in crevices, among forbs, in open sunny places.

When I first got a variety from this group, I made a big mistake - I planted the bulbs next to the Asians. Needless to say, the appearance of the plants for the next summer was not pleasing: pale leaves with "burns" and frail flowers. A special flower bed with a lot of chalk and the addition of compost corrected the situation. Now magnificent specimens amaze everyone with their magnificence of "gramophone" flowers.

Golden lily

Golden lily, or auratum (L. auratum). The birthplace of this beauty is the island of Honshu in Japan. It is most often found on southern slopes between low shrubs or hard-leaved grasses, so the top of the stem must be in the sun.

Despite the fact that this lily grows in dry, open places, it requires high humidity, especially during the growth period. During flowering, dry and sunny weather is desirable for her. The culture of the golden lily is successful on well-rotted sod land with a small amount of leaf humus.

She is quite winter hardy, but light cover will not hurt. It has long been cultivated in Japan as a vegetable and medicinal plant. Having learned about the predilections of the golden lily, we placed it in our garden on a small hill with good drainage - in a sunny place, but between perennials. There is enough moisture in the Leningrad region, but during flowering, you may have to think about sheltering the plantings from the rain.

Lily of Marchgon

Lily of Marchagon, or curly (L. martagon). All forms of the martagon lily are quite hardy. Young white-flowered bulbs are somewhat more tender, they require light shelter.

This lily multiplies slowly by independent dividing of the bulbs and basal bulbs-babies. Martagons are forest dwellers, so they can grow with significant shade. They prefer moist loamy soils, they are not afraid of the presence of lime.

For an autumn planting or transplant, it will take a year or two to restore normal development. Planting in spring is preferable, but lilies may not bloom in the first summer. We were advised not to touch the bulbs for several years, but to divide the nest of bulbs only when necessary. In short, find a place that looks like a forest - and don't touch it.

Nepalese lily

Nepalese lily (L. nepalense). Its stem is wandering, sometimes reaching 50 cm from the bulb to the surface.

As a result, loosening around the stem must be done very, very carefully. This is also the reason for the formation of a significant number of children, so the species reproduces easily. The homeland of this lily is the Himalayas. Plants are found at the edge of forests, among thickets of bamboo, evergreen rhododendrons and oaks.

The Nepalese lily prefers soil rich in humus. Summer there is wet and rainy, almost like ours, only the Indian winter is very different. I suppose that in our area this lily will not want to winter in the open ground, or rather, will not be able to. You will have to think about strong cover or transferring the plant to the cellar.

Lily leopard

Lily pardalinum (pardallus), or leopard (L. pardallnum). Despite the fact that in nature it grows even in California, it is very frost-hardy, unpretentious, resistant to diseases and pests.

It can be found in areas along the stream, in a swamp, as well as on a mountain slope above 1500 m above sea level. She absolutely does not tolerate dry soils, and in the shade it ceases to bloom. Prefers light loamy soils with peat and leaf humus, does not react to the presence of lime in the soil.

Under normal conditions, this lily multiplies unusually quickly. Each bulb gives up to 10 growth bulbs annually, and therefore requires their transplanting once every three years. Planting and dividing the bulbs should only be done in the fall; the bulbs should be planted to a depth of 8-15 cm, but a deep planting up to 30 cm is also permissible.

Lily dwarf

Lily pumilum, or dwarf (L. pumilum) grows in mountainous and foothill areas, on dry open rocky slopes, between stones, on clay, sandy or gravelly soil.

Its most northern location is noted in the vicinity of Yeniseisk, which means that our frosts are not terrible for it. Bulbs live 3-4 years, so their regular renewal from seeds is necessary (reproduces well).

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Lily regale

Lily regale, or royal (L. regale). It is found only in one place - in the valley of the Minjiang River (China). It grows on mountain slopes, so it prefers loamy soils with the obligatory presence of lime. On acidic peaty soils, it becomes shallow and quickly dies.

That is why it is so rare in our gardens. Rotted manure can be applied under the roots. Summers in Sichuan are dry and hot, while winters are cold but with a lot of snow. Therefore, in snowless winters, it is necessary to slightly cover this royal person.

To prevent late spring frosts from damaging the tops of young shoots with buds and leaves, we plant the bulbs of this lily in our garden between low bushes and peonies. Thin stems are not a sign of nutritional deficiency. So this species has adapted to strong winds blowing in the valleys in places of its natural growth.

Reddish lily

Rubellum, or reddish lily (L.rubellum). These lilies are found in a very small area in the north of Honshu Island, on the edges of the forest.

Therefore, they need a shallow planting (up to 10 cm) in good sandy soil, rich in leafy humus. Winter on the island is long and cold, summer is hot and rainy, autumn is dry and sunny. According to I. L. Zalivsky, it is not very hardy in the Leningrad region and requires shelter.

Lily beautiful

Lily specialozum, or beautiful (special) (L. speciosum). Under natural conditions, it grows on open sunny slopes of hills and mountains between grasses and low bushes.

It is not surprising to find individual specimens on steep rocks, in pockets with clay soil. Although this species is found in the more southern regions of Japan, unlike rubellum lily, its bulbs are quite winter-hardy. Lily spesozum prefers light loamy soils rich in leafy humus.