Summer Lilies- I Can Dream, Can't I?

And they bloom better if the late frosts or early bunnies don't get them!

Do lilies (Asiatic and Day) do okay with part sun? I have a "perfect" spot along my back fence but about 2 it starts to be shaded.

Thanks.

This message was edited Jun 2, 2006 4:30 PM

That would be great for Lilies in your zone. Afternoon sun will keep Lilies from fading. Can't speak for daylilies as I only dabble in them.

I have many of my daylilies in a spot just like that and they seem to do just fine. In my experience, some of the darker colors do better in afternoon shade.....it keeps their color from fading.

Hi alamoaimee, welcome to DG. Your 'perfect spot' does sound perfect. There isn't a spot in my garden that receives full sun and I have lots of lilies and daylilies that give a wonderful display. As mentioned before, some afternoon shade in your climate would be ideal.

Afternoon shade is great for Oriental lilies--keeps them fresh longer. I have lots of daylilies in part shade. Not as much growth or blooms. On the other hand, mendy is right that deep purples and near blacks do best with afternoon shade to keep the color fresh.

I think one of the most troublesome spots in a garden is one that is in shade until afternoon and then it gets blasted for 3 hourse or so with hot afternoon sun...add "dry" to that, for example under the eaves of the house, and you've really got a problem. I had native daylilies in a spot like that one time and even they struggled. There should be a forum just for "Trouble Spots". Maybe there is...there are so many forums on this website I don't know them all.

Not knowing any better, I planted my Starfighters in a shaded area two autumns ago. But they didn't know they weren't supposed to do as well there. They maybe didn't get at tall (and that's okay), but they bloomed like crazy. And I was blown away by the wonderful fragrance!

Nice pic!

I have a story like the last 2 ~ Not knowing any better (lilies like sun, right?) so I planted my first Stargazers on the west side of my garage as it's the only place that gets a good blast of sunshine. Boy, do they ever get it! They're always about to bloom just when summer really turns up the heat.

I still have some there, though they are the ones I use for cutting since otherwise they would come and go too quickly.

That is a beautiful lily, kbaumle - thanks for sharing

well all my stuff is in partial shade and here is a pic of my new bed where I planted a mix of pinks and whites and yellows.

cceamore,
Absolutely beautiful!
Sherry

I planted 15 colors of lilies yesterday--most of them were Orientals. I guess I'm an optimist. They seem to do best along a north fence in my yard, sheltered by the neighbor's hedge and bathed in dabbled sunlight from a river birch.

I also planted a new one---L. nepalense--from the Himalayas? I'm hoping the shady spot will work for it too. The martagons seem to like it there.

Wanda
Is That that really tall giant white lily? I can't wait to see a picture.How exciting. I just buy bulk bags of lilies and some smaller bags of named ones so most of mine I don't know their names but Vicki gave me Black beauty and some more named ones last year which I love.I have loads of stargazers and madonna lilies,Tiger.
I love all lillies.
Thanks Sherry for the compliment
Celeste

I've heard that L nepalense can be difficult, so I'm glad someone is giving it a try. I've been looking at it for a few years now. Good luck with it.

I think the really tall one is the one that likes really moist, almost boggy conditions. L himalaysium or something like that.

There are a couple of things about L. nepalense to keep in mind. They are tricky. I've killed off a couple of them I got from M_Z Bulb. First, they need continuous moisture (but excellent drainage) during the growing season. But get this: they need to be kept dry (in situ) during the fall and winter. They spread by underground stolons. I'm going to try again but from seed this time. If I kill'em off I'm only out a buck!

I ran across the "really tall one" in a catalog last night and it's not even a lily, but is called the Himalayan Lily.

The really tall one is Cardiocrinum giganteum, a non-lilium. Nepalense is also native to certain areas of the Himalayans so another case where common names can be confusing. L. nepalense is very impressive. Fortunately, mine bloomed before they croaked. They are greenish with a very dark center inside and the petals curve back. Oh now I am drooling thinking about them. Can I really wait for seed??? After all it is really easy to just pop the credit card number into this magic computer thing and have bulbs show up at door... Better go to work and get some coffee...

LOL Let's hope they never make computers that you only have to 'swipe' your credit card.

Three of us from the Lily Society are going to try to grow this L.nepalense. I don't know if my garden will work or night--especially if it needs water in the summer & dry in the spring. I'm willing to try it once and see...

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/plants/plant/26178

I bet it would do well by a pond.

Ooh La LA those are pretty.I will wait and see how they do wanda before I buy some bulbs but so tempting!I hope yours prosper and multiply like crazy!








Here is another shot there are sixty lilies planted in this bed it was my new addition last year.

Those are very pretty, cc - when was that picture taken?

Last summer in july

cc--stunning!

cceamore, gorgeous lily bed!!!
Whats the pink one called?

Really, cc - my Asiatics bloom much earlier than that.

Lilies breaking ground here! :)

I think I better go see what's happening in my garden!

Yep they're up! Go away for just one day and see what happens.

Wow. I'd better check my lilies, too...

One of my lilies is coming up here too, not quite as much as Lilyfan's though.

Steve

Nothing here.

I have only a few lilies that are NOT poking their heads up.

Wonder why mine are still sleeping? :-(

Don't worry kb ~ it's been a very unusual winter, much too warm here.

It's been very warm here, too. I don't know that the ground ever really froze beyond the top inch or so.

Steve
Sorry it took me so long to reply.I mail ordered those bulbs last year and I didn't recieve them until last of april or first of may so they bloomed Late.All of them are from a field grade bag and pink collection bag of bulbs and I don't have the names.I like buying them in bulk and that is the least expensive way to buy them and I love all colors so they never disappoint me.I know some people are picky and only like certain colors but I am a rainbow Tacky girl.I like them all mixed up!







Star gazer

This message was edited Apr 4, 2006 6:44 PM

CC, thanks for the reply.
It doesn't really matter if you don't have the name, I was just curious.
I'm not picky about colour either....I don't usually think too much about that sort of thing. Your Stargazer is very nice, they make me think of a watermelon....... :)

Steve

Thanks Steve