Monday, March 19, 2012

Easter Lily, Perennial of The Day

Lilium longiflorum
    Easter Lily,  Trumpet Lily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    7A to 9A
Height    12" to 39" / 30cm to 100cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Columnar and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
This plant is often forced in greenhouses for the Easter season.  They can be grown most any time of the year under glass if they have been cold treated for flowering.  In the landscape, this plant can form new bulbs by dividing the plant in the fall.  This lily is not as hardy as other types.  One should not plant this lily with other types of lilies because it may transmit a virus.  This lily is also very drought intolerant.