Lilies (trees): planting and care, growing outdoors

In the last decade, new varieties of very tall lilies have appeared in garden stores, which are called tree-lily. Since then, disputes about this plant have not subsided: some call it a myth, others recommend it as new original hybrid varieties. Let's try to understand what lily-trees are, planting and caring for which are of interest not only for florists, but also for all gardeners.

What does this tree look like?

Although many mistrustful gardeners believe that after all, the lily is a flower, a tree with this name exists and amazes with its size and beauty of flowers. With proper care, it can become higher than its owners (some specimens reach a height of 2.5 m). And its flowers have a large scale and fireworks of shades, and some resemble the size and shape of children's panamki. One plant can have up to 20 tubular flowers, similar to a turban or goblet.

Such a huge plant exudes a tender and persistent aroma, which, combined with external beauty, gives it not only exotic, but also aristocratic appearance.

Trees such plants are called only conditionally for their high growth (up to 2.5 m), but in fact they are varieties of very large and high flowers, derived not only by natural ways, but also with the help of breeding scientists growing with active feeding of gardeners On the sites.

Those varieties that are now sold in stores are lily-trees, the varieties of which are of two types:

• Species lilies (or kardiokrinum), which grow wild in nature;
• OT-hybrids, which are obtained by biologists by crossing tubular and eastern varieties of lilies.

These species of lilies are completely different in terms of growth, soil and agrotechnical requirements. They slowly multiply and bloom only for 2-3 years after planting.

Species lilies

This plant in science is called cardiaccrinum ("heart-shaped lily" - Greek.), The name was given to him for the shape of the leaves. In the world there are only 4 types of such plants growing on the island of Sakhalin, the Japanese Islands, the Himalayas and China.

Kardiokrinum - a bulbous plant (a bulb of white color in the form of a cone), its stems, hollow inside, have a diameter of 5 cm on the ground.

Leaves, similar in shape to the hearts, - with a reticular venation, the next, to the stem are attached with long petioles. Flowers, most often white or pale green, tubular, usually deflected horizontally or appear drooping, are located on short pedicels.

Cardiocinum blossoms only 4-5 years after planting with very large flowers, after which the bulb dies off, forming small children, which are suitable for subsequent reproduction.

In horticultural areas in the open ground, only two varieties of lilac trees are grown: giant and Chinese. Lily-tree, the photo of which is presented in the article, impresses even experienced gardeners.

Cardiocinum giant in its native land (in the Himalayas) grows on the slopes of mountains and has a height of up to 3 m. It usually blooms in August, the inflorescences have up to 20 large greenish flowers, each up to 15 cm long, giving off a very pleasant smell.

Cardiocinum Chinese grows in the homeland in the mountains near the rivers and in the forests of the Center and East of China. The height of the plant reaches 1.5 m with the leaves located at the top of the stems. Flowers can only be up to 5 pieces about 10 cm in size, pale green with small red spots on the top.

How to plant and care

Kardiokrinum prefers very warm fertile places, located slightly in the shade (does not like direct sunlight). That such lily-trees, planting and care which require from gardeners some experience, to place on the garden plot, you must carefully prepare the soil before planting: to make drainage (the bulb can bend due to high humidity), to bring in leafy soil. The optimal time for landing is the beginning of autumn.

The hole is made large, measuring 60 cm, adding sand and soil. When planting, the tip of the bulb should look out of the soil. The distance between adjacent bulbs is not less than 1 m.

For the winter period, a special air shelter is constructed from the lapnik, which covers the plant as a whole. This shelter should not be removed in the spring immediately, but you need to wait until the spring frosts (at this time sprinkled with snow). After opening, the plant must be blocked from the sun.

It is important that the tree is properly developed. Lilies care specific are not required, you need several additional fertilizing with the help of integrated mineral (spring) and organic fertilizers (in summer). To reduce the acidity of the soil, it is recommended to introduce wood ash (the plant does not like acid soils) or add bone meal.

To water a cardiocranum it is necessary 1-2 times a week (at a rainy weather less often). When watering, you can add growth stimulants directly to the water. High stems need support so that the plant does not fall and does not break from the wind or its weight. Every winter, the lilac tree should be pruned and covered from frost and cold.

For reproduction, the daughter kidneys should be separated in time from the dead and dried mother bulb (and preferably before germination and appearance of young roots). If the children in the bundle are left to spend the winter in the ground, they most often die from the cold.

Also, cardiocryinum can be propagated with the help of seeds, which are usually collected in the spring before the beginning of vegetation, and then sowed in prepared soil.

OT-hybrids - what is it?

Another selection variety of giant lilies was created by scientists in Canada, who brought lily-trees - hybrids of the OT class. In scientific circles they were given the name Oriental X - tubular. These lilies make an indelible impression of their beauty and unusualness.

The first offer for the sale of lily-trees appeared in Holland in the catalog of flowers, in which trees with a height of up to 2.5 m with an unimaginable number of flowers (50-60) were promised to buyers. Since then, discussions of the reality of the existence of such plants occur regularly in scientific circles and on the vastnesses of the worldwide network.

Then the question of the legitimacy of the name "trees" remained open. Already in 2009, one of the firms in Canada registered the trademark "Lily-tree", and this name was assigned to them.

Another name given to such lilies by foreign breeders - Goliath - is due, of course, to their size. Last years, these powerful beauties with the help of experienced gardeners began to grow in the middle latitudes of Russia. However, to get flowers on such a wonder tree, you need to wait 2-3 years.

Hybrid varieties

Over the past few years, many varieties of hybrid plants have been identified. Lily-tree, a photo of which you can see in the article, can have a different degree of frost resistance. Also different can be the height of the stem, the color of flowers, the duration of flowering, the requirements for care.

Lily-tree - varieties (photos and colors):

• Aventino (pink with a yellow asterisk);

• Anastasia (pink-crimson with white flowers, very high stem);
• Big Brother (vanilla-yellow flowers);
• Donato (bright pink);

• Carbonifer (dark cherry or red with yellow center);
• Corsini (pink with a yellow-green middle);
• Gold Class (yellow-red with specks);
• Holland Beauty (crimson with cream border);
• Honeymoon (yellow-honey);
• Miss Patchvork (maroon with smears of chocolate in the middle and white border);
• Holland Beauty (crimson with cream edging);
• Mr. Job (brown and burgundy with a green star in the middle and a cream strip along the edge);
• Moon Passion (cream with purple in the middle and yellow sprayed);
• Preti Woomen (white);
• Purple the Prince (burgundy-violet);
• Robin (crimson with white center);
• Zelmir (orange-pink) and many others.

The highest grades: Friso, Donato, Anastasia, Robin.

Very popular now are such varieties as Purple Prince, lily-tree Pretty Wumen, planting and caring for which require more attention, compared with low grades.

Popular hybrids

First of all, it is necessary to clarify that such hybrids reach their maximum growth and flowering not earlier than 3 years of age: in the first year such a lily grows by approximately 30 cm, in the second - by 50-60 cm, and only at its third height reaches Not less than 1.5 meters. Blossom all hybrid varieties for 2-3 years.

The most popular variety now is the lily-tree Pretty Wumen, whose flowers (25 cm in diameter) have a soft creamy-white tint with a slight pink tint, after the flowering the buds become completely white.

Such a lily is obtained by crossing the eastern and tubular lilies. In the inflorescence usually has up to 30 flowers funnel-shaped or cup-shaped, with a pleasant aroma. Flowers, as a rule, are directed upwards or slightly sideways, there are several shades of color: yellowish, pink, light orange and multicolored. The flowering time is the second half of the summer.

The stem of this lily tree is strong and strong, up to 180 cm high, under very favorable conditions, plants can grow up to 2.5 m in 3 years. This variety has good winter hardiness and increased resistance to diseases.

Also very popular is a variety such as lily-tree "Honeymoon", characterized by increased winter hardiness (does not freeze even during severe frosts to -35ºС). The tree grows to 2 meters and is able to release more than 18 beautiful buds, which then blossom with an unusual luni-honey color (with a darker middle) with a rich aroma.

Lilies-trees: planting and care

Such plants have some specific features of agricultural technology when planting in the soil, during growth and flowering. Some varieties like acidic soil, some - alkaline.

Consider as an example of such a popular now popular hybrid variety, like the lily-tree Pretty Woomem, planting and caring for which are carried out in a manner similar to other plants of OT-hybrids.

For such a lily tree, the soil needs a weakly acidic, with a high content of fertilizers (but not fresh organic matter). This plant does not like the proximity of groundwater, so the optimal place where a lily (tree) can be planted is planting on raised flowerbeds, provided with good drainage. For drainage use gravel and river sand, padded with a layer of up to 20 cm.

To place the planting of lilies is better in slightly shaded places, for example, located under the crowns of fruit trees, giving a diffuse shadow.

The time of growth and flowering of such lily trees is 4-5 years, because on the 5th year the bulb is depleted, which leads to a decrease in the growth of the peduncle, a decrease in the number of buds, possible diseases and even tree death.

Planting bulbs is carried out either in early autumn, or in April-May. The soil is prepared in advance, when the bulb is planted beneath its bottom and around, sand is poured in, the depth of planting is 15-20 cm from the rootlets to the surface. After that, the ground must be covered.

Watering the lilies should be done 1-2 times a week all summer, and especially during the flowering period. It is very important for these plants to make top dressing, especially when forming buds. The last seasonal fertilizing should be carried out until mid-August with the predominance of potassium fertilizers, which will help the bulb to recover faster after flowering.

And so, came a cold autumn, grew up over the summer planted in the spring lily (tree). "How do they winter?" - this question is often asked by gardeners when preparing the plant for winter frosts. Although there are varieties with increased cold resistance, but warming plantings of lily trees still need to be carried out.

In late autumn, the trunk of the plant is cut off, the plantings are insulated with dry mulching and sheltered for the winter by a layer of 5-10 cm (for example, by decomposting compost or coniferous fallace). This helps the remaining bulbs in the ground not to get sick and survive the winter frosts.

In spring, such a shelter becomes mulch, which first rescues from frost, and then serves to maintain soil moisture. It is very important in the spring not to loosen the planting site of the lily tree, as it gives a lot of sprouts that can be broken.

Reproduction of lily trees

Garden lilies are usually propagated with the help of seeds, children, cuttings and bulbs.

Lilac trees (for example, the lily-tree of Pretty Woomen) are most often propagated with bulbs, although the number and speed of their growth in hybrid varieties are small. The process of reproduction is rather labor-consuming and slow, because bulbs are very sensitive to dampness and can deteriorate in the autumn.

In addition, children can only be obtained after a few years, when the plant begins to bloom in full force. The most adult tree (4-5 years old) forms a whole nest with bulbs suitable for seating.

Also, lilac trees can be propagated by means of seeds in boxes at the top of the stems (late autumn). Before the onset of cold weather, they are cut (together with a part of the stem) and placed in a warm place for ripening. Seeding of mature seeds is best done immediately because of the high probability of loss of germination.

Lily-pyramids exist?

Pyramids or shrub lilies in nature do not exist, despite the assurances of some private sellers or firms selling various flower varieties. The number of buds on these pyramids is advertised more than 40 pieces, which is completely unrealistic.

An explanation of this can be the phenomenon of fasciation, when there is an accidental fusion of several stems for several reasons:

• Adverse conditions or failure when the plant grows when damage to the bulb or shoots is possible;
• Bacterial infection, the effect of pesticides or radiation;
• Excessive use of bioregulators and growth stimulants or mineral fertilizers;
• Mutations associated with changes in temperature or mode of illumination and humidity.

It is possible that the shoots may become curved or deformed, becoming more flat. There are some varieties of lilies (for example, Marlene), which are prone to fasciation.

Variety Marlen refers to the species of Asian hybrid lilies, the advantages of which are winter hardiness, earlier flowering, very strong budding. The height of the stem is up to 1 m. The flowers are rather large, pink at the ends and white in the middle. Flowering period lasts up to 2 months. One of the unusual differences is that they have absolutely no smell.

Lilies of the Marlene variety can form from 40 to 100 colors when a peduncle flower is shown. But this phenomenon is completely spontaneous and not regulated by man. This is also explained by the ability of plants to produce from one bulb several shoots at once, which can grow together under the influence of fasciation, forming a single thick flower stem.

Although the advertised shrub and pyramidal species of lilies do not exist, they do not give out the variety Marlene. This kind of hybrid lily itself is worth a few words of admiration.

Lilies-trees in the design of the garden plot

Lily-trees, planting and care for which are very simple, suitable for decorating any garden site. Many of the derived hybrid varieties have a wide variety of colors and are perfectly suited for growth between fruit trees in the garden or near the house.

When creating flowerbeds with such tall plants, it is necessary to calculate in advance the possibility of planting other floral plants and place them between lilies (different types of asters, delphiniums, gladioluses or chamomiles are suitable).

On the edge of such a flowerbed, you can plant bulbous varieties of tulips, crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths. As a background planted low-growing species of marigolds, garden carnations, perennial iberis and others.

As neighbors for lilies, juniper, thuja, cypress or ferns are suitable. Using the landing of several varieties of lilies at once, you can select them according to the flowering time to ensure a long alternating flowering of the plants.

In our country, such plants are engaged in a small number of gardeners. Many or not familiar with these types of flowers, or do not trust the sites in which the lily tree is advertised. The responses of those specialists who purchased lily trees, could grow them and wait for flowering (3 years of waiting - after all, a considerable time), testify to the extraordinary beauty of such flower trees and the originality of their sizes.