Lilies are found naturally in America, Europe and Asia in a belt that stretches across the entire temperate zone. The further south they reach, the higher they grow in the mountains, always avoiding dry steppe areas. Two species are found in the wild in Poland: the very rare bulbous lily Lilium bulbiferum with orange flowers, growing in mountain meadows in Podhale and Orawa, sometimes also cultivated, and the gold-headed lily L. martagon with purple hanging flowers, found in deciduous forests and thickets.
White lily Lilium candidum is one of the oldest cultivated plants, known for several thousand years. It was cultivated at manors and in backwater, especially in monastery gardens, and as a symbol of innocence, it was eagerly used to decorate altars.It was also used as a model of heraldic lilies - the Lilies of the Anjou or Bourbon, in our scout lily.
Popular species of lilies
The lily has been known and cultivated since the 17th century. Initially, due to difficulties in reproduction (mainly vegetative), cultivation was limited. Only the discovery and introduction of species easy to mass reproduce by sowing seeds resulted in a rapid increase in the production of these beautiful plants. The main representative of this type is the royal lily L. regale. Lilies did not reach the wide market until the 1920s and 1930s. With time, many varieties and extremely varied, even sensational hybrids were obtained: with trumpet, cup-shaped or turban-shaped flowers in a rich range of colors, ranging from pure white, through pink and red, and ending with shades of lavender, greenish, light and dark yellow, orange and brown. The flowers are large and small, raised and dangling, multi-colored and single-colored.As a result of breeding work, it was possible to cross related species, but differing in appearance. In fact, no other garden plant can surpass this generation of lilies in terms of color scale and multiformity. They are an excellent companion for shrubs, suitable for perennial beds, for planting on the banks of ponds, and lower species for rock gardens. With additional fertilization, some species can grow under trees.
Growing and caring for lilies
The place for lily cultivation must be dug to the depth of a spade, crushed up lumps of soil and enriched with a large the amount of compost. The more carefully we prepare the place for the plants, the better they will grow and multiply faster. Before planting, one dose of mineral fertilizers should be applied, and after the resumption of vegetation the second one. If the site is enriched with manure two years before planting the bulbs, mineral fertilizers can only be applied in one dose. The bulbs are planted to a depth equal to twice their diameter.The exception is the white lily. Its bulbs should be covered with a 2-3 cm layer of soil. The planting date for this lily is also different, as it should be planted in August, and the rest of the species from September to October. In order to protect the bulbs from voles, they must be placed in special openwork baskets before planting. Cover the place where the bulbs were planted with a thick layer of compost to protect them from excess heat and drying out.
All lilies suit well-drained, airy, slightly acidic soil that does not clump and does not dry out quickly. The groundwater level should be 40-60 cm. The ideal position for lilies is a bright, airy place, not heated directly by the midday sun. The sunnier the position, the more attention should be paid to the layer covering the soil, as lily bulbs are favorably influenced by a carpet of low plants: perennials, grasses or ferns. In such an environment, lilies look natural and fully display their beautiful flowers.The cover of plants prevents the soil from drying out and clumping.
Lily pestThe enemy of lilies is the lilac chokeberry, a beetle that feeds on leaves and flowers in May. edges with oblong holes. It can be recognized by its brick-red coloration. Its larvae are covered with sticky mucus. Viewing lily plants and picking leaves with their eggs, collecting larvae and beetles can quite effectively prevent this pest from growing. This requires systematic action throughout the growing season. The collected insects and eggs should be destroyed. When inspections begin early in the growing season, infestation can be avoided. If this happens, spraying will be necessary. Since lily leaves are covered with a layer of wax, an adhesion increasing agent should be added to the preparation.
