Lilium

Tiger Lily

Lilium tigridium Photographed July 20. Moore Farms, Lake City, South Carolina.

Orange leopard spots? Outrageous and retro in Special Care: Plant in dry spots, away from so many ways! Tiger lily is a tough old passregular irrigation. Interplant with shrub roses, along-plant that was once a standard of Southern abelia or sturdy perennials to help support the country gardens. Its little black ‘bulblets’ form in heavy headed flower stalks. Cut stalks back in the leaves and inspired lots of us children to grow winter if they haven’t already disappeared. something from ‘seed.’

Flowering Time: Late July.

Foliage: The glossy green leaves are elegant through early summer. It pretty much goes away after it flowers.

Growth Rate: Fast. Bulblets fall to the ground and grow, making flowers the next summer.

Ultimate Height: 3 feet.

Gardening Tips: Simply pop these in among other large perennials. They’ll tolerate being planted in very dry areas and often come up in nearby beds and walkways.

Suggested Combinations: Plant this with gaudy annuals such as mauve Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’ yellow day lilies or purple alternanthera.

For a more subtle combination, interplant tiger lilies with asparagus-- then you have something to eat as the asparagus emerges in spring.

Philippine Lily

Lilium philippinensis Photographed July 27. Moore Farms, Lake City, South Carolina.

We tend to think of lilies a finicky-- but this one is almost a weed. I’ve seen it flowering in fields, where houses used to be. Drought tolerant, dramatic in the heat of June, scatter the seeds and you’ll have a mass.

Special Care: Plant in dry spots, away from regular irrigation. Do not cut the flower stalks after the flowers fade. The seedpods are beautiful and the seeds will come up around the garden next year.

Flowering Time: Late June.

Gardening Tips: Mix in among open branched shrubs. Use in containers for winter foliage Foliage: The glossy green leaves are elegant interest. They’ll tolerate being planted in very little tufts like liriope in winter and spring. It dry areas and often come up in nearby beds pretty much goes away after it flowers - until fall. and walkways.

Growth Rate: Fast. You can collect seeds this summer, sow them and you’ll have new flowers next summer.

Ultimate Height: 4 or 5 feet in flower. Seed head after flowering about the same. In fall & winter, it’s just 6” tuffs.

Suggested Combinations: Plant this with elegant old fashioned zinnia, pholx or roses.

Plant, behind hedges or mailboxes for a summer show. Mix in grasses & meadow planting.The photo above, show where I planted them in shade & root competition under pink crepe myrtles, mixed with fall flowering sweet grass.