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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



March, 1910 



Garden Notes 



Conducted by Charles Downing Lay 



Fifteen Good Lilies 



' HRRE^ are numerous lilies, and all of 

 them have some beauty, but many are 

 tender or difficult to grow; indeed, we 

 might say that almost all are difficult, or 

 at least capricious, and even the experts 

 disagree as to the cause. 



In the following list there are fifteen 

 which are easy to grow — for lilies. All are beautiful and 

 worth planting, even if they die the second year. 



As a rule, lilies should be planted in a fairly rich, sandy 

 loam, where there is good drainage and where the water 

 cannot stand in winter. The front of the rhododendron 

 bed usually satisfies these conditions. The shaded ground, 

 the winter mulch of leaves, and the freedom from disturb- 

 ance which they have in the rhododendron bed is a dis- 

 tinct advantage. They bloom late, and give the rhodo- 

 dendron bed a gay appearance at a dull time. Besides, 

 the rhododendrons form a grateful background for the 

 thin-leaved, stalky lilies. Spring is the best time to plant 

 most lilies. 



I. Liliiim candidiim. The Madonna lily is perhaps the 

 greatest favorite of all white lilies. The flowers are large 

 and handsome, on a stalk four or five feet high. They are 

 often planted with perennial larkspur, because they bloom 

 at the same time. This lily must be planted in August, as 

 it cannot be moved after the basal leaves grow in September. 

 2. Ijliiim aiiratum. The golden-banded lily of 

 Japan. Has white flowers with a yellow strip on each 

 petal, and numerous purple spots. It is four to eight feet 

 high, and blooms in July and August. It is best planted 

 in large clumps in partial shade. 



3. Liliiim speciosum, the Japanese lily, in several vari- 

 eties, white, pink, deep rose and crimson, is very lovely. 

 It should be in good clumps in the shrubbery or herbaceous 

 border. It is the latest lily to flower, and grows three to 

 four feet high. 



4. Lilinvi testaceiim, the Nankeen lily, is supposed to 

 be a hybrid, and is perhaps the most beautiful of all lilies, 

 ihe whole plant is full of grace and charm, and its delicate 

 warm, yellow flowers, with brick-red stamens, are entranc- 

 ing. It grows in full sun or partial shade, and will en- 

 dure much dryness. It looks better planted singly among 



evergreens than in clumps. It is four to six feet high. 



5. LUiiim teniiifoVuim, the Siberian coral lily, is very 

 low — not more than two feet high — with fine leaves and 

 five or six brilliant scarlet flowers with a waxy texture. It 

 is good planted singly in the rock garden. 



6. Liliiim sitlphiireitfn, the sulphur lily, is very large 

 and somewhat heavy and solid, but delicate in color. It is 

 primrose inside and rather a soiled chocolate-white out- 

 side. It is three to four feet high. 



7. Lilium canadense, the wild yellow lily, has many 

 nodding, clear yellow flowers, on a stalk two to five feet 

 high. It does well in partial shade. 



8. Liliiim elegans has many varieties in red, orange and 

 yellow. All have merit and are interesting in the border 

 with day lilies and iris. 



9. Lilium superhiim, the American Turk's cap lily, 

 grows six or seven feet high, bearing a large cluster of 

 bright orange flowers with dark spots. It is good in the 

 shrubbery or the wild garden. 



10. Liliinn Henryi is like speciosum in shape, but is 

 orange-yellow with green bands. It will grow six feet high, 

 and when established bears perhaps twenty flowers. Plant 

 singly in the shrubbery. 



11. Lilium tigrinum splendens, the tiger lily, is well 

 known, and in the right location very handsome. In full 

 sun it appears pale and washed out in color, but in shade 

 it is more brilliant. When once established, it will take 

 care of itself and Increase. 



12. Lilium chalcedonicum, the scarlet martagon, is bril- 

 liant scarlet, three or four flowers to a stalk four feet high. 

 It will grow in dry places better than most lilies. 



13. Lilium ruhellum, is low with delicate pink flowers 

 which last a long time. It is earlier than most lilies and 

 would look well if planted with white Viola cornuta. 



14. Lilium maculatum, is a Japanese lily of great hardi- 

 ness and beauty. It is three feet high with reddish orange 

 flowers in clusters of six to ten. It should be planted singly 

 in a clump of early white Phlox, perhaps. 



15. Lilium Grayi, is a native lily with dark orange red, 

 bell-shaped flowers, beautifully spotted. It grows one and 

 a half to three feet high, and is excellent in the wild gar- 

 den, as well as in the more cultivated one. 



