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| Ask Lil E. Um part III |
Do you have unanswered questions about the genus Lilium? We’ll help you find the answers. Just Contact Us to send your inquiry. Be sure to reference “Ask Lil E. Um” and we’ll find a lily expert with the best advice. |
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I would like to join
the North Star Lily Society, but would not be able to Hi Sharon, Message: I bought a yellow
Tiger Lily from a friend, but enroute from her Hi Doreen, So, for your broken stem, if the buds are far enough along, you may be able to see it in bloom in a vase. The broken stem will not root in the vase and that bulb will not send up another stem this year. If the stem broke in a place that still leaves a partial stem attached to the bulb in the pot, that partial stem will help nourish the bulb for next year's growth. When your garden is plantable and the danger of frost diminishes, I'd plant the lily bulb in your garden outside. Even if the bulb doesn't have much of a stem left on it, I'd still plant it outside and mark the spot. Plant it in a sunny area that has good drainage, perhaps a little deeper than it was in the pot. Although we are just beginning to enjoy the Spring of 2007, you'll be sort of 'putting a lily in the bank' for the summer of 2008. Lilies add such a beautiful vertical
element to our gardens and it's easy to find space to tuck
in another cultivar or two to add more color to your summer
landscape. nother excellent website for you to visit for
more lily culture information and lily photographs is that
of the North American Lily Happy Gardening! Message: We recently
settled in a small cottage in Pennsylvania which had Hello Eleanor, It is delightful to have little surprises
to enjoy in our gardens, isn't it? Lil -- Do you know of a reference
that lists the lily species and their USDA For an informed response to this
question, we contacted U of M Professor Hi Lil, Neil Message: Our surprise lilies seem to appear
almost overnight this time of year--one day, nothing
since the leaves have all died, then suddenly we have
2 foot stems with buds. How quickly do they break
through the ground and reach that height?
Doris
Hi Doris,
I have 'Surprise Lilies' too. They
are not actually lilium, which are the plants that the
North Star Lily Society has as its focus of interest,
they are Lycoris Squamigera which are members of the
amaryllis family. We do receive many questions about
plants that are not members of the genus lilium. I've
never actually timed my 'Surprise Lilies'. Because
the blooms arrive on stalks that seem to come out of
no where, I think that it probably takes about a week
for their push from the ground to bloom stage and then
they may be in bloom for a week beyond the growth spurt. Their
green stem almost hides itself among other plants and
I don't even notice it until the buds start coloring
up and blooming. It is quick though, sometimes
it seems to appear overnight, but I think it's just because
I don't really notice it until it is in flower. Because
they come into bloom later in the season, the plant 'rushes'
to put itself into its bloom cycle before it
is time for the dormancy of the winter months. Check
out the website: http://www.aogc.org/shade/000107.html This
informative site is produced by the Arlington Organic
Garden Club of Arlington, Texas, a much different growing
zone than Minnesota, but the plant culture information
is useful and approximately the same as we experience
here for 'Surprise Lilies'. There are many plants
that have lily as a part of their name, but are not actually
lilies. Check out the culture page on the website
of the North American Lily Society: http://lilies.org/culture.html This
wonderful website gives a great explanation of the genus
lilium and also has an excellent photo gallery that displays
many varieties of 'official' lilies. Also, scroll
back through some of our older Ask Lil E. Um questions,
we've received and responded to other questions about
Lycoris.
I hope we've been helpful. Enjoy
your 'Surprise Lilies' you've reminded me to go out and
look for mine. With the extreme dry heat of our
2006 summer, I hope I don't miss their appearance.
Best regards,
Lil
|
Hi Lil.My question
is this.
Seven years ago my Great Aunt gave me some tiger lilies pretty orange ones. Any way I planted them in the front yard on both sides of my house in between the steps. On one side of the house where some of the lilies were planted I noticed that they were not doing as well as the others on the other side. I believe this is because it is shadier on that side and when it rains it causes the flowers on that side to droop. I have not had any blooms for sometime on that side of the house. I thought of transplanting all the flowers from both sides of the house to a sunnier spot where there is less shade. I want to plant shade plants in the front yard instead I just don't know what yet. But anyway when will I be able to transplant my flowers could I do it this fall? I should mention that where I want to plant them is kinda weedy. I want to kill all the weeds FIRST before re-planting the flowers. I want to get a weed killer that won't harm my flowers what can I get? Please let me know thanks a lot. Hi Wendy,
Isn't if fun to receive plants from
friends and relatives? These become part of our heritage
and when we see them we remember the kindness of the giver.
Your tiger lilies are most probably lilium lancifolium.
These lilies were some of the most favorite plants
in old perennial gardens. It sounds like your tiger
lilies have found themselves in challenging places in your
yard. They would prefer a sunny, well drained spot in your
gardens. Moving them from the shade will give them a big
boost. If you have a new site picked out, and it is full
of weeds, it is great that you are planning on clearing
it first. Some folks don't like using chemical weed killers.
One way to avoid this is to mow them down and then cover
the area with a layer of black plastic, to sort of roast
the weeds. Leave it in place for a couple of weeks. That
should make it easier to clear them out. A reliable chemical
way is to use a product like 'Round Up'. Be sure to follow
directions on the bottle because this chemical is an herbicide.
It kills all plant material, but doesn’t remain in
the ground. This type of chemical can be sprayed on the
weeds. But be careful, any herbaceous plant will be affected
by a product like this. If you have other plants or even
grass nearby, do not spray on a windy day. Some folks use
an old mop dipped in the herbicide to swab the weeds with
the liquid. When the weeds are dead and removed, you can
then plant your lily bulbs. In Minnesota, we start dividing
and transplanting our lilies in September and early October.
Be sure to check out our photo gallery for instructions
on how to divide lily bulbs. Plant them and then mulch
the garden well. This is especially important the first
winter. Next spring, watch your garden and remove any little
weeds that show up. Some of this year's weed seeds may
have survived. Mulch between your lilies should help keep
them under control, or else use a 'pre-emergent' herbicide
to kill the seeds. But remember, a pre-emergent herbicide
will also kill any seeds you mean to plant in your garden.
Good luck with your tiger lilies!
Lil |
Message: I have
planted some nicotiana amongst my lilies. I have
been since advised they are poisonous to lilies. Is
this true?
Jean Hi Jean,
The flowers of some varieties of Nicotiana,
also known as 'flowering tobacco' are very fragrant
and I can see why folks add them to their gardens. As
annuals, they add continuous color in summer after some
of our perennials end their bloom cycle. Your question
about their affect on lilies is one that we have not had
before. All parts of Nicotiana are known to
be poisonous for consumption by animals and humans, but
should not affect other plants. We believe that they
will not cause problems with your lilies.
Best regards,
Lil |
Message:
 I
think we may have found the critter. Stalk borer?? A
vacant lot behind us was excavated in June to build a house. I
think they may have migrated to my yard and found paydirt. Anyway,
here are the photos. Would appreciate your thoughts. It
really looks serious out there. Thanks much for a
quick response. |
I'm in Spring Park out
by Mound/Lake Minnetonka.
Connie
|
Lil
emailed NSLS member Franci Nelson, who has one of the
largest lily gardens among society members.
Hi Connie,
From what I can see in the picture
it looks like corn borer. We have had it in a few stems
in the past and unfortunately you have to just dig the whole
thing, stem and bulb, and put it in the garbage...do
not compost it!! To my knowledge there is not really anything else you
can do to prevent this, it just picked a few of your lilies
to feed on and lay their eggs.
Corn borer is everywhere just like
the iris borer and for what ever reason it also on occasion
likes the stems of lilies. We have not had a reoccurrence
in our garden for a couple years so I wouldn't be worried
that you are being inundated with this problem.
I hope this answers your question.
Franci Nelson |
We have received two questions
from gardeners growing lilies in warmer climates than
our own. Zone 7 and 10B. For information, we
have again called on our lily expert from the South,
Dr. Art Evans. Dr. Evans successfully grows and
hybridizes many lilies, specializing in asiatics and
orienpets. These questions are right up his alley. Thank
you, Art, for sharing your wisdom with us.
Lil
Message: I have some asiatic lilies which have already bloomed. Now I want to know if I should let the leaves brown to feed the bulb for next year or cut them to the ground, or what? I live in Zone 10B in the Southwest and this is my first year growing these beautiful flowers. Thanks Daveen, Message:
Which orienpet lilies, if any, are
most likely to be successful in Zone 7? I gather
from reading various sources that they prefer colder climates.
Thanks! Lela
Dear Daveen, If you want to try to keep these
lilies to bloom next year, keep them well watered and fertilized
until the foliage turns yellow. Your climate probably does
not stay cold enough to fulfill the winter chill requirement
for asiatics, which means they probably would not grow
well next year if left outside. Try bringing some of the
bulbs inside, packed in dry peat in a poly bag, after they
go dormant in August or September. Keep them in the refrigerator
as near to 32 F as possible for 12 or more weeks. Plant
out when cool weather comes. Your climate may be somewhat
Mediterranean, which means the growing seasons are somewhat
reversed, compared to the cool climates where Liliums are
native. If you use your refrigerator well, you may have
lilies waaaaay before anyone else next spring.
Dear Lela,
Almost all lilies prefer a cooler
climate than zone 7. There are a few species (L. longiflorum
and L. formosanum, easy from seed) and some orienpets which
perform well with morning sun and afternoon shade in the
hot, humid South. Try 'Leslie Woodriff', 'Scheherazade',
and the American Series ( 'American Heritage', 'American
Spirit', American Bandstand',etc). I would avoid OTs bred
for the Dutch cut-flower market. Many of them do not hold
up well in warm-climate gardens.There may be exceptions,
of course. If you love lilies and have plenty of room,
by all means try them all and let me know what does well
for you. If a new variety comes back stronger in the second
and third years, you've got a winner!
Best wishes to you both,
Art Evans
Hi Heather, Lil received your questions
and forwarded them on to our best Southern Lily
Expert, North American Lily Society member, Art Evans. I'm
including your question and his reply below. Thank
you for your email. There is always something to
be learned by every question. Dear Heather, |
Message: I am looking
for martagon lily seed to start as there has always Hi Ted, |
Ask Lil E. Um received these questions
and with the help of Dr. Gene Fox, North American Lily Society President,
sent a quick response to a very happy college student. Here is the
email:Message: Hello, my name is Ashley and I am writing
a paper about different flowers and I would like some information
about the lily. Please help me with any of these questions that you
can. Reply: Dear Ashley, |
I
have a number of Asiatics that have broken off during
bloom that I thought was from wind. On closer
inspection, there is a granular white material (stem?)
and the stem is hollow. My Orientals aren't looking
very good either, but that looks more like fungus. Is
there a lily borer in Minnesota? Are my bulbs
at risk? I really can't find any information about
this problem and need a pretty quick answer, if that
is possible. I have photos of the stems if that
would be helpful.