Cultivated for over 5000 years, lilies are undeniably beautiful and with around 100 specie of these bulbs spread over the northern temperate zone there are plenty to choose from. They are strongly upright plants with narrow leaves, and heads of cup-shaped, bell-shaped, or sometimes very large trumpet-shaped flowers occurring in a wide array of colors and patterns. According to folklore, plant hunter E.H.Wilson so prized his newly discovered Regal Lilies, that after an avalanche broke his leg, during an expedition in China in 1910, he carried on rather than abandon them, and when confronted with an approaching donkey train on the narrow trail he lay down and let the donkeys step over him one by one. Thus he preserved his prize but was left with a permanent "lily limp."
CULTIVATION
Lilies flower best with full sun for at least half a day. They need moist soil that is humus-rich, fertile, and well-drained. To guard against damage and moisture loss, do not store the bulbs dry, but in moist sawdust or shredded paper. Propagate from offsets, by scaling the bulbs, from leaf axil bulbils, or from seed.
Top Tip
When planting lilies in the garden, allow for a depth of around three times the height of the bulb. Once established, lilies can be left undisturbed for years.
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