Here is a photo of my planting hole for lilies. You can see how I am preparing for drainage. The bottom of the hole will be filled with sand and a light, aged mulch. Above that will be a thick layer of prepared flower soil. The platformed part is an existing plant of Asclepias tuberosa that I did not want to transplant.
I am trying to find a source for Lilium duchartrei bulbs or any similar white Martagon lily.
Can anyone help me?
Of course, Lilium duchartrei is not a martagon lily, but it is a turk's cap form with the recurved petals, which I assume you mean. Is this a full sun area? Both L. duchartrei (especially) and L. martagon prefer at least part shade, especially in you part of the country. They would grow there, but probably would go dormant prematurely in the summer, rather than in the fall. If it were me, I would look for some downward facing (1c type) or down and outfacing (1b/c) asiatic lilies. Perhaps someone here can help you out on a white cultivar name to look for.
Realize that the mulch that you are placing at the bottom will continue to decompose, giving less soil volume and making your garden's soil surface sink. You'll need to compensate.
Leftwood,
Thank you for this information. I have had difficulties growing lilies in my location. Most of them die out in one or two years. However, L. henryi has done very well here. That is the bulb that I am planning to plant in this hole (along with other non-bulbous plants). I have seen photos of Lilium duchartrei that exceptionally beautiful. I would like to give a similar lily a chance in my garden. My spot has full sun but there are lots of trees around and that really amounts to about a half day of sun in this situation. I am quite prepared to keep the soil level up, especially after all the aerobic effort to excavate the spot!
If they have all been species lilies that die out, their requirements can sometimes be very exacting. If it's been hybrids that won't persist, than something is wrong, since they are quite adaptable.
I used to have Lilium 'Madam Butterfly' that has L. henryi parentage. A very nice vigorous lily. There are other Madam Butterflies on the market that are not the same, so if you look for it, make sure it's the right one.
Lilium 'Madam Butterfly'
Also 'Louise' is another with L. henryi parentage.
