Growing Instructions For Lilies:

Flower colour: various colours
Flowering period: July - August
Average plant height: 70 - 100 cm
Planting depth to base of bulbs: 15 cm
Spacing between bulbs: 30 cm
Type of bulb: bulb
Light requirements: partly shade during the day is no problem. It is to be advised to shade the lower part of the plant, lilies like 'cool feet'. (PM sun)
Landscape uses: border, perennial garden and pots and containers. When lilies feel "at home" they even naturalise in the garden.

Principal varieties:

The Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society have classified lilies as follows:

Division 1- Asiatic hybrids
Asiatic hybrids were once known as "Mid-Century" hybrids because they were developed around the mid-point of this century by hybridizer Jan de Graaff of Oregon. Mr. de Graaff devoted his life to lily hybridization and was one of the most accomplished practitioners of that art the world has known. 'Enchantment,' his first of the mid-century hybrids was the first lily to feature erect flowers. This characteristic revolutionized the use of lilies in the cut flower industry.Gardeners also have Mr. de Graaff to thank as pioneer of today's easy-to-grow garden lilies. By the 1980s, the category of Mid-Century hybrids had grown so large that the name was changed to Asiatic.

Plant in late spring, 10 - 12 cm deep. Roots develop along the stem. These are mid-century hybrids raised by Jan de Graaff in Oregon. Mr. de Graaff spent most of his life working with lilies and is the best-known lily hybridizer in the world. One of his goals was to make lilies easy to grow for the gardener. Here is a summary of the most important varieties.

'Alaska' - white. 100-110 cm.

'Apeldoorn' - orange. 100-110 cm.
'Compass' - orange. 80- 90 cm.
'Connecticut King' - yellow. 90-100 cm.
'Cordelia' - yellow. 100-110 cm.
'Dreamland' - yellow. 90-100 cm.
'Elite' - orange. 130-140 cm.
'Enchantment' - orange. 90-100 cm.
'Gran Paradiso' - red. 110-120 cm.
'Hilde' - yellow. 90-100 cm.
'London' - yellow. 120 -130 cm.
'Mona' - yellow. 100-110 cm.
'Monta Rosa' - pink. 120 -130 cm.
'Montreux' - pink. 110 -120 cm.
'Nove Cento' - yellow.110 -120 cm.
'Pollyanna' - yellow. 120 -130 cm.
'Roma' - creamy-white. 130 -140 cm.
'Sancerre' - white. 80 - 90 cm.
'Sunray' - yellow. 70- 80 cm.
'Toscana' - pink. 100-110 cm.
'Vivaldi' - pink. 100-110 cm.
'Yellow Submarine' - yellow. 90-100 cm.)

Division 2 - Turk's cap
Hybrids of Lilium Martagon and L. Hansonii raised in Holland by van Tubergen. Turk's cap are woodland plants. They like the shade.

Division 3 - Includes hybrids of Lilium candidum, the madonna lily.

Division 4 - Hybrids of native North American lilies, mostly progenies of tall-growing Lilium Parryi and Lilium pardalinum. Flowers are reflexed, which means that the petals curve back.

Division 5 - Lilium Longiflorum. The white Easter lily commonly forced for spring bloom. In nature it blooms mid-summer.

Division 6 - Trumpet lilies, derived from Asiatic species. The Aurelia and Olympic hybrids are part of this group. Some have pendant flowers.

Division 7 - Oriental hybrids, mostly derived from Lilium auratum and Lilium speciosum. Flowers are usually large and shaped like bowls. Very fragrant.

These are the most commonly grown cultivars:
'Acapulco' - cyclamen pink. 120 -140 cm upward flowers
'Casa Blanca' - white. 120 -140 cm horizontal flowers
'Cascade' - light pink/dark pink. 130 -140 cm upward flowers
'Dame Blanche' - white. upward flowers
'Laura Lee' – pink. 100 -120 cm horizontal inflorescence
'Le Reve' ('Joy') 80 -100 cm upward inflorescence
'Marco Polo' - white with light pink edge. 100 -110 cm upward inflorescence
'Mona Lisa' - pink. 50 - 60 cm horizontal inflorescence
'Olympic Star' - pink. 100 -120 cm upward inflorescence
'Star Gazer' - pink-red. 80 -100 cm upward inflorescence

Division 8 - Includes all other hybrids.

Division 9 - All lily species. Some are still commonly available.

Courtesy of the International Flower Bulb Center (www.bulb.com)