Lily scales

I had to share my excitement with someone who would appreciate it (my DH just gave a weak "wow" when I told him.)

I'm very new to gardening and this is the first time something that I've tried to propagate seems to be working. I pulled a few scales off of my lily bulbs when I was dividing them earlier in the spring figuring it was worth a try. I just checked some of the scales today and found that they have sprouted. I am really excited about this since they didn't seem to be doing anything for a few weeks. I guess this exercise just shows me the value of patience.

PurplePetal, you are to be contragulated! It does take time and patience, but scales is one way to really propagate lilies.

You can also check for bubils, little bulbs along the leaf bracts or along the stem about an inch or two underground. If you plant these in the fall you will have sprouts the following spring.

One of my Casa Blanca lilies set seeds last year. I planted the seed in a pot of dirt and sunk the pot into the ground with the rim at soil level. This spring I had an additional 6 little lily plants.

I love lillies!

How long, do you suppose, would it take a lily to bloom once propagated this way? A couple of years?

If I remember correctly, with good culture 3 years.
First winter for the seed(Scale, bulbil)- after it is sprouted.
2nd for the bulb to grow
3rd for the flower.

Time goes by so quickly, just put them in a spare part of your garden and fertilize them.
When you get to be 68, two or three years is Nothing!

Guess it will also depend on your area. This has been my experience with a tall orange/red lily. I think it is one of the crosses either between asiatic and oriential or oriental and trumpet.