I have some Golden Star Gazer lily bulbs from this springs VB Wholesale order. My last lily bulbs to plant from that order. I do still have to plant the Gladiolas I have with that order but nevermind. Anyway, I read somewhere that all Golden Star Gazer bulbs are virused so I am afriad to plant them . But I don't know if thats really true and if its not, this is a lily that I really like and would love to have in my garden.
So I am wondering if any of you grow Golden Stargazer. Or if anyone knows anything about them being virused or not.
I am trying to think of a spot far away from any other lilies I could plant them but since my lilies are all around different spots in the garden, I have not thought of one yet. Don't know what to do :-((
Golden Star Gazer Questions
I grow 'Golden Stargazer' and have for several years (5+) and know it to be a beautiful OT lily that I have had no problems with whatsoever. I believe it to have been bred by the late Ed McRae. It glows in my garden and gets bigger and better every year. I have heard from a grower that it is supposedly more sensitive to virus, but I haven't seen any signs of that in my gardens and also stated that in my conversation with that grower. I look it over very well each year, just because that was told to me, but I guess I pretty much look all my lilies over pretty well ;)
Oh yes...it is in a clump with other lilies. Lots and lots of other lilies!
I have never heard of that. Tiger lilies (L. lancifolium) is known to be virused but is resistant to it so it doesn't show symptoms. I think that is the one you would want to plant separate from others. Its hybrids are ok though.
Yeah...what I was told is not that it carried a virus, but that it was more prone to getting one from another source. Or taking less virus to show virus signs.
That said, I have only heard it from one place. It's not that I don't believe them, it's more that it hasn't been my experience.
Ok, this is good. That means I can stop worrying about it. Honestly, sometimes its better to be ignorant, then I don't have to worry about anything I don't know about.
I did really want to plant those Golden Stargazers. They looked so good in the pictures.
As far as looking for signs of lily virus, I know I will be looking at ALL my lilies carefully.
The tiger lilies that grow here in my garden have been here for 50 years and I mean that, no typo. They came with the house when I was a little kid. So I am not worried about virus with them.
I did buy a double form of tiger lily from VB this spring and its already planted. I don't know anything about the double form so I hope they are ok to plant.
Also I have some of those "improved" tiger lilies that you can buy in non orange colors. They have been growing here for at least five years and look healthy enough. I got them from some really cheapo catalog like henry fields or something like that some years ago.
Those sold as "improved" tiger lilies, or as tiger lilies in colors besides orange are just Asiatics, and wouldn't be likely to demonstrate the trait of being non-symptomatic to virus.
Glad to read that..I had wondered since I have put a few in this year.
How about the double form? I had never seen the double form of tiger lily until this spring and I did already plant some. At least I will be able to plant my Golden Stargazers and not worry about them.
I believe the double form is a mutation from within the species, so I'd assume they also would have that trait. If its a concern, you could grow some inexpensive Asiatics next to your tiger lilies. That way if they were to become infected, the neighboring plants would most likely also become infected, and show symptoms, alerting you to remove them. Deeper colors show symptoms most dramatically, whereas in whites it can be more difficult to see.
I still don't know what I am going to do about the double form of the tiger lilies. I have them planted in a new garden section that I did this spring so will probably dig them up when they show themselves. Not sure were to put them or if I just should toss them. I really have too many lilies to takes unnesssary chances.
I planted my GOLDEN STARGAZERS today. So thats the last of the lilies to be planted until my second order from VB Wholesale shows up. At least its on its way, it shipped out Friday.
Well I am jealous! I ordered my golden stargazers from KVB and put them in the ground last November, in a really sunny bed. They were HUGE healthy bulbs; I was shocked at the size and condition of the bulbs compared to other online vendors I have used in the past. We had wierd weather and they sprouted in February just before a freeze hit and they turned to mush-ola. I'm hoping they won't do that next year but I might move them to a less sunny location just to be safe.
Here's today's lily....supposed to be Montreux but I really wanted Lollipop and I think I lucked out! This doesn't look like Montreux in the plant files.....
I did not think Lollipop has black dots. I could be wrong.
rita, do you think its Montreux?
I think that this is what Montruex is supposed to look like..
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57270/
This is Lollypop...
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/48959/
:)