Lilies with a difference

Autumn is the best time to plant Turk’s caps and Madonna lilies – two beautiful additions to a flower border that will also suit container growing, says Graham Clarke

- Graham Clarke

MOST gardeners are familiar with the large-flowered Oriental and Asiatic hybrid lilies, which are usually planted in spring. However, there are two very beautiful lily groups that are best planted in autumn, for flowers in June, July, and August. The first is the Turk’s cap lily (Lilium martagon), which produces tall spikes of elegant, pink-purple blooms with swept-back petals. There are many varieties, in colors from yellow, pink, lavender, light orange, and deep red to white, often with whimsical flecks and spots. The flowers also have a light fragrance.

Compared to those of most hybrid lilies, the blooms of the Turk’s caps are small, but they are certainly plentiful – up to 50 can appear on a single stem of a mature, settled bulb. And once the petals fall in autumn, the upright seedheads have an attraction, too.

I find many garden lilies too garish for a flower border and much prefer to grow them in large patio pots. This doesn’t apply to the Turk’s caps, however – they grow very well in garden soil, enjoying part or dappled shade. In fact, those that are positioned in full sun tend to be somewhat stunted.

L. martagon prefers alkaline conditions, so if you have soil that’s acidic you’ll need to either provide some lime each year or grow your bulbs in containers. The really important thing, as with all lilies, is that the soil is free draining. If your garden has heavy clay, make sure you dig well before planting, adding plenty of grit as you go