Fragrant lilies are easy to grow, bloom all summer

TIM MOREHOUSE, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Originally published May 19
The perfume from a flowering lily, says garden writer Eleanor Perenyi, is like "the winds from paradise."

Some have an aversion to highly scented flowers, but this is not a problem for me. The seductive trumpets of a lily emit a fragrance that can fill a room or garden.

Lilies are easier to grow than roses, and garden pests do not trouble them. Potted lilies can be planted in the garden once the flowers are spent and they will bloom again -- either the same season or the following year.

There is one rule you must follow when growing lilies: Always allow the leaves on the stalk to turn yellow and fall off. As with all bulbous plants, it is the leaves that feed the storeroom under the ground.

The fragrant "Easter lily" is Lilium longiflorum, originally from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. Its long, wide-mouthed trumpet flowers earned it the Japanese name Teppo-yuri, meaning "blunderbuss lily."

Lilies have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years, since the Sumerian culture developed in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley. One Sumerian city was named Susa, another name for lily.

Today, America leads the world in hybridizing lilies; no other area rivals the Pacific Northwest for the production of new cultivars.

The Asiatic lilies are a vigorous group with an intense fragrance and colors ranging from the softest pastels to fiery reds. Blooms will vary from simple, open bowls to delicately curved flowers. Stems seldom reach more than 3 feet. Several examples:

- "Santa Cruz" is a clear lemon-yellow that looks great in the early summer garden.

- "La Toya" is a smashing deep pink and resists fading.

- "Scarlet Emperor" produces the most intense red of any Asiatic hybrid. Blooms face upward, which makes it ideal for cutting.

The Oriental lilies are the most flamboyant of all hybrids: huge flowers, intense fragrance and rich colors. Blooming season runs June through September. Some favorites:

- "Black Beauty" is a deep crimson with a white edge and central green star. Mature plants can sport as many as 15 flowers per stem.

- "Star Gazer" has brilliant crimson flowers edged in pure white with a delightful perfume. Stems are less than 3 feet tall. Because florists use Star Gazer so often it is probably the best known lily in the world.

- "Casa Blanca" is one of my favorite white lilies. Huge blooms are borne on sturdy 4-foot stems. The lilies will permeate the garden with a rich perfume in late August. Plant several of these bulbs to enjoy summer evenings.

Planting tips

-All lilies like to have their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade. Plant annuals and/or perennials around your lilies to keep the surrounding soil cool.

-Be sure lilies have perfect drainage.

-At planting time, mix into the soil some leaf mold or compost.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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