We’ve just finished the flowering season for the amazing, Taiwan native, Lilium formosanum. This amazing lily comes true from seed, and for us, flowers the first year from seed. After three years, it reaches 6′ tall in our climate, Zone 8a, Raleigh, NC. The deliciously sweet flowers make such an amazing show in August, at a time when so much else in the garden is sulking. A couple of months ago, we wrote about the shorter mountain form, which we think probably deserved to be elevated to species status. Hardiness is Zone 6a-10a. While it grows in light shade, the flower show is minimal, compared to when it is grown in at least a half day of full sun.
That is pure loveliness! And first year from seed blooming makes it a must have!
I tried to grow the tall oriental lilies. I bought a half dozen bulbs and planted them in a row and waited for them to come up. Only one of them came up. It was about four feet high and white with maroon edges. As I stood there admiring it and wondering why only one grew, the lily was sucked into the ground. It was like a scene in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. In this case Bugs Bunny was innocent. The criminal was a gopher.
Fantastic! What a “statement for a garden”. Would this plant make it in Zone 10B?
Good morning Tony these lilies have been a star in my garden for years but not this year short and no blooms. Any idea why this happened?
The only two reasons that I’ve seen the stop flowering is too much shade, and deer.
I selected this beautiful lily at last year’s open house and it bloomed briefly, but beautifully. Does it naturalize?? Thanks in advance.
It will seed around a bit in the garden, if you allow the seed to drop.