The small plants I just received came from Colorado. Has anyone grown them and does anyone have any advice as to soil?
Thanks, David
How do I plant and grow L. philadelphicum?
Your zone is similar to mine. It is listed in my Connecticut wildflowers as growing in dry woods and thickets. It is shown growing among ferns, so if you have a shade garden, it probably would be happy there. Since it looks like a baby, I would not expect it to bloom too quickly as its mature height is 1-3 feet. It was probably grown from a bulblet and will take time to mature. Expect a beautiful 1 bloom per stalk. The only lilies in my shade garden are trout lilies which only reach about 6 inches. The soil is loose and friable and somewhat protected by trees. My guess is that like most lilies, philadelphicum does not like wet feet. Your patience will pay off for a lovely and unusual bloom.
Take a look here: http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/liliumphil.html
Good that you started a separate thread, David. I'll copy and paste some of my info from the species thread so it will be easy to find in the future:
"I also have some tiny seedlings of L. philadelphicum. Actually, yours look better than mine. Mine are from native seed gathered about 70 miles from me. I did not germinate the seed, nor collect them., however. Do not baby them. They apparently can use a lot of water in the spring, but prefer to dry out more in the mid summer and fall. I have to echo that advice myself, as this is the second season for mine, and they inadvertently take a beating (drying) in summer, and don't kill, while I would expect other lilies of that size to die. When they get big enough I am plan to plant them with some prairie grasses I already have growing (Bouteloua gracilis), as they seem to prefer a "wild", uncultivated setting. Full sun is best."
I am not aware that L. philadelphicum produces bulblets. For all I know, it certainly could. Can you confirm that Cathy, or anyone?
Only from what I've seen online, Lefty. No first-hand experience.
I planted 3 I ordered from Senecca Hills Perennials this spring. So far they have appeared to vanish. Hopefully they just went dormant? I have also tried to grow them from seed using a wintersowing method with no germination. These seem to be tough ones! I have conditions that seem to closely resemble what they would like in the wild and it looks as though it didn't matter for me. Maybe a critter ate them? Anyway I think I'm done trying them.
Fixed typos..
This message was edited Sep 27, 2009 7:53 PM
Seneca Hill is a most admirable nursery. There are not many around anymore that actually grow their own stuff from seeds or cuttings. Indeed philadelphicum is finicky, to our standards. There is a good chance they just went dormant, Meredith. But yes, I think I would venture forth with some other related lilies that are easier, before trying philadelphicum.
L. philadelphicum seeds do not need a cold treatment to sprout, and they likely just rotted away during the above freezing times when you wintersowed. The seed probably won't germinate below 50F, and really only does well above at least 60F. (About 70F is optimum.) Below 50F (and even at, say, 34F) fungi does grow. So there was a lot of time when the lily seeds could easily have rotted. If there is a next time, try germinating them inside at room temperature. Surface sow, with only a light covering of sand or gravel. Enclose in a clear plastic bag to keep the humidity in, and keep in the brightest light you can, without being direct sunlight.
Everything else I ordered from Seneca has done well. The Philadelphia Lilies were the only ones that seemed to not do well. I am sure it is more likely that they are just finicky than that Seneca sent bad plants. I think I will only try them again if I can buy a large plant at the new england wildflower society if I ever see them there. It is over an hour drive for me and they only have certain things available at certain times. So I'd have to be persistent in calling to see if they had them out in the sale area. I've had good luck with every other lily I've tried. Although Michigan Lily is the only U.S. native I have a full grown plant of. I do like that one. I got it at the above mentioned place. Of course I'm still keeping my fingers crossed they pop up in spring. It would be a pleasant surprise that's for sure. : )