Planting Lilies to Bloom at Different Times?

I saw a pic of tall lilies with the upright ostrich ferns in front of them. Covering the thin stalk. It looked very pretty. I have a few ostrich ferns so I hope to try it.

Voss, they weren't huge, but they seemed pretty normal to me. I had a fairly big clump of them blooming last year. They do need to mature to blooming size. Did they do anything? I think when they are small like that, you don't plant them too deep. 3 X the size of the bulb. If they're a no-show this year and you're willing to wait, I can probably spare a few this fall.

Well, I'll wait and see if the tuberoses come up. I've tried them before and they came up but didn't come back the next year. If they don't come up, I'll just have to buy some already growing.

The ostrich fern idea is interesting. I would think they would be too tall, but maybe not. In this particular spot though they would get too much sun I think. It gets really hot direct sun for atleast 6 hours. Are there lilies that can grow with only bright indirect light? There is a really bare spot on the north side of my house under the eaves. I have a cinnamon fern ordered to try there. I have a macho fern already and I just bought a Kimberley or something like that.

Mary Lee

Lilies will grow almost anywhere. I did read someplace that if they don't get some sun, they will eventually decline after a few years.

OK, well then I'll have to put them far enough away from the house that they get some direct sun. With ferns behind them they should look really nice. Which kinds (other than tigers, asiatics and formosas) would survive this roller coaster weather we have down here. It's normal for us to have 32 or below at dawn and 60 or 70 by l0 am.

I think most of them will do well in zone 8. If you do plant where they will get afternoon sun, you'll probably have some color fading, but that happens here too. You might consider martagons next to the house. They like to be shaded. They do take a few years to get going.

I think you need to try a few of each of the major catagories and see what you like. I would add a few orientals and trumpets. Try some LAs. They should all do well.

thanks beaker.

Ok, I can tell that I need to do some more research. I'm going to an RU in April, maybe I can pick some in trade there.

Thanks, Mary Lee