If they were expensive you should have gotten one of the newer hybrids, but I'm also seeing some amazing prices in catalogs and on the web that may be due to the disasterous weather events across the gulf coast states last year. (Some areas flooding,anywhere a hurricane didn't hit going up in flames) On the hybrids, each of those little buds on the top of the tubers that look somewhat like potato eyes will produce a cluster of petioles (stems) and flowers (spathes) and they will increase each year just about any place that isn't too arid during the growing season. Z. aethiopica that is often called "common white calla" , but also includes two pink varieties that I know of, will offset and form big clumps more freely. Keiko

Hello Stephanite, There is a thread in the Far North Forum on lilies, which might interest you. Most lilies like well-drained soil in full sun. The recommended spacing for the taller ones is 30cm apart. In our zone I wouldnÂt get too concerned about shading the base of the plants. OTH Lois Hole suggests creeping Jenny, thyme or lamium. IMHO peach-leaved bellflowers (Campanula persicifolia) go well with lilies. To my mind lilies look best planted in small clumps of the same variety. One looks lonely on itÂs own and too many can be overpowering. The Asiatic lilies are the earliest and easiest of the lilies. They tend not to have any scent. Of those the orange varieties seem to be the most vigorous. I have to lift and divide "Hup Holland" every three years. LA hybrids are a cross between the Asiatic and the Trumpet lilies and are well worth looking for. They have large flowers and are often scented in the evening. One I have is "Donau." The Orientals bloom later in the season, sometimes getting nipped by first frost. Many are strongly scented. Two that I have are "Stargazer" and Casablanca." These two have done well in my garden but donÂt seem to multiply. Zone 3 doesnÂt seem to have a long enough summer for them to multiply their bulbs. The Trumpet lilies seem to fade away after the first year for me. Zone 3 is just a bit out of their range for coming back reliably. I havenÂt tried the Martagon lilies but they like shade and seem to be a bit tickier. Ian Here is a link that might be useful: Lily thread in Far North Forum

Hm...when you say "they don't come true" are you talking about fancy hybrids that might reproduce something different? Or do you just mean the new seedlings won't be healthy? The tall daylilies are the orange kind that grow along the road...I guess they are the 'natives'? They kind of grow wild so I imagine they would re-seed themselves? I wouldn't mind if all my perennials re-seeded and filled up all the space... it's a hard climb to take bare earth and try to fill it up. All of it was lawn until last april.

They should bloom in partial shade, although if too much shade, they grow too tall and may fall over. You can plant them in the ground as soon as you can work the soil (e.g. after it thaws). They do not need to be stored in a pot over the winter. They are fully hardy in your area. I prefer to plant them in the ground as soon as possible. However, since lilies do best planted (instead of stored dry and unplanted), I recommend potting them up. You then have two choices. Grow them and let them flower in the pot. After flowering, dump the contents of the pot in the ground in mid summer. You can also dump it in the ground as soon as you can work the soil. both will work. In any event, start by potting them up, but they do best if planted permanently. Partial shade or sun is best. Do not plant in deep shade. Avoid places where standing water can rot the bulbs. The first one (LA Hybrid) will have thicker flower petals and generally flower after the hybrid asiatic. Both are very nice lilies.