Any luck with Madonna Lilies?

magnumv8

17 years ago

Just got 2 bulbs from Bluestone Perennials. How deep should I plant the bulbs?

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Comments (3)

hld6
17 years ago
Unlike other lilies, lilium candidum needs to be planted very shallowly. The top of the bulb should be no more than 1.5" below the soil. Also, different from other lilies, candidum prefers alkaline soil.
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In the winter you should see a rosette of leaves appear. In the spring a stalk will emerge (and the rosette of leaves will die off). This was my second season. The first I only got the rosette. The second I got the rosette in the winter and a stalk (without flowering). I'm hoping this coming third season that the bulbs will have gotten large enough to flower.

My understanding is that the bulbs available commercially are a little smaller than blooming size. Candidum is also resistant to virus and hence can act as a carrier.

I'm also growing some candidum from seed that are doing quite well. They have very healthy rosettes now (I planted out tiny bublets last fall). They may even overtake the bulbs I bought. If so, I may ditch my bulbs if they don't perform well this spring.

-Helen
raydio
17 years ago
One thing about Lilium candidum is that they need to be kept fairly dry after flowering, that is, when they are dormant. Summer wetness does them harm. They should also have good very drainage to prosper.
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Well-grown you should hope to see a few flowers the 2nd season after sowing seed. A well-drained spot is best, somewhat dry towards the end of summer (a plant from the mediterranean after all). If your climate is very hot a little shade keeps their foliage going for longer but I certainly remember clumps back in the UK which were in full sun. My experience of bought-in bulbs is that they are often only just at the edge of flowering size - no stem simply means too small a bulb in my opinion. The stress of lifting & selling (they have only a short dormancy which is why you'll see them sold earlier than the main run of lilies) can leave them sulking a season or two. Provided the bulb is still there (one advantage of shallow planting is that your finger can flick away the soil to see), patience is all that's required. The virus susceptibility is more of an issue. More virus-tolerant than one would like, so that they'll go on growing without actually turning-up their toes when infected (lots of the old clones wouldn't set seed & thus were propagated exclusively vegetatively so they obviously can survive a long time after infection). Most people suggest growing it as far away from other lilies as possible and starting with seed-raised (& hence virus-free) stock. You might think of regularly renewing them from seed or even growing a sacrificial plant of longiflorum within the clump to test for virus as McRae suggests. Best of Luck.
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Hi linnea56 The main differences are soil type and planting depth. They need basic soil (intolerant of acidic soil) and must be planted with only a 1/2" or so of soil above the top of the bulb. They don't have a reputation as a shade tolerant lily and also like good drainage. So dry is OK but dry shade NOT OK. A sunny bed near masonry (that hasn't been amended with peat moss or other acidic materials) should work well. Basically they are the opposite of azaleas/rhododendrons. So where those plants do poorly candidum should do well. Candidum is supposed to be planted earlier in the fall then other lilies. They need the time to send up a rosette of leaves that overwinters. In zone 5 you don't have much warm weather left so a sheltered spot on the warm side of the house might be your best bet. The good news though is that you probably haven't killed them, but they might go dormant this year and go AWOL or underperform this spring. Also, since you've had them awhile they should be reasonable sized bulbs which will help them weather this "oops" in handling. Good Luck! -Helen
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
17 years ago
I've had a Madonna lily in one bed for maybe 10 + years, where a tree has overgrown it. It's been very neglected, as this whole shrubby garden corner was neglected. Still it bloomed every year, though leaning out from under the juniper tree. I've decided to move it (that corner is being re-landscaped next spring) but wonder if it should be in a similarly "neglected" spot. My main garden is comparatively moist: I have a part shade garden that is on a slight slope and much drier. Would this be a better spot?

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Any luck with Madonna Lilies?

Comments (3)

hld6

raydio

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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)

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