Bulbs are typically associated with those planted in the fall, such as the famous tulips and daffodils. There is another world of colour and scent, however, and they emerge from bulbs planted in the spring. Known by their Latin name as Lilium, or more commonly as lilies, these unusual beauties aim to please any condo landscape from June to September.
The great flexibility with lily bulbs is that they can be inter-planted into existing landscaping. If a hole can be dug with a bulb digger or small shovel, three inches wide by six to eight inches deep, then a lily bulb can be planted.
Where they will not grow is in heavy clay or poor draining soil where they will inevitably rot. They will also grow in either full sun or part shade, which is usually the case for most established condo planting beds.
There is also a variety of heights ranging from 18 inches, which suits planting in containers, and up to 44 to 60 inches suitable for inter-planting around existing tall perennials and shrubs. They are all sure to please both condo residents and visitors as all their blooms are large and fragrant, outperforming any other summer flowers for visibility.
The Asiatic Group
These are the first group to bloom, usually emerging in late June and early July. They are winter hardy to Zone 2, which means they have no problem thriving as far north as Thunder Bay. The remaining groups are winter hardy to Zone 3. Colours usually have a dramatic burgundy or soft yellow ‘throated’ centre.
The Trumpet Group
These are the next in sequence to bloom in July. What is incredible about these varieties is their height, three to five feet, making them perfect to integrate with tall shrubs. Also worth noting is their intoxicating fragrance such as those pure yellow and white and purple varieties.
From left to right: Lilium Trumpet (white with purple ‘throat’), inter-planted with Butterfly Bush; and Lilium Trumpet ‘Golden Splendour.’ inter-planted with Purple Leaf Sand Cherry shrubs.
The Oriental Group
The Oriental Group blooms in late July into early August. Most famous for its extraordinary fragrance and four-to-six-foot mature height is the Oriental Casablanca. Pure white blooms suit any landscape colour scheme. Star Gazer is slightly shorter, but with stunning deep pink and pink speckled blooms and equally fragrant.
Tiger Lilies
These are the last to perform in mid-to-late summer, going into early September. These blooms face downward which is atypical to the other groups and in a variance of yellow with red speckles, and yellow and red striped. Coming into their own when most of the landscape starts to tire, fade and wane the Tiger group is a great pick-me-up.
Clockwise from top left: Lilium Tiger (red/yellow); Lilium Orientalis ‘Casablanca’; and Lilium Asiatic (various). Varieties in yellow with burgundy speckled ‘throats’ and white with yellow ‘throats.’
Maintenance
The ease of Lilium is their ability to do what is known as ‘perennialize.’ What this means is that the bulbs multiply with age by producing smaller bulb offsets. Some varieties will last for years and when weighed against the cost of bedding annuals that are planted year after year, the savings for the condo corporation can be significant over a 10-year period.
Planting in the spring involves the same level of skill from a landscape crew that would be required for fall bulb planting. Spraying for lily beetle and staking of taller varieties may be required. If inter-planted amongst sturdy existing perennials and shrubs, the need for staking can be by-passed. Cut the spent foliage down to the ground in the fall and the cycle will begin again the following spring.
Kent Ford is Principal Landscape Architect and Founder of KFDG Inc., a Toronto-based landscape design and project management firm specializing in condominiums. He can be reached at 416 368 7175, www.kentforddesign.com or by email at kent@kentforddesign.com
Feature photo: Lillium Orientalis ‘Star Gazer’
