Yellow Martagon Lily

Lilium (Lily) - a huge genus of bulbous plants native primarily to the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Although there are some sub-tropical species. The three biggest groups commonly grown include the Asiatic, Oriental and native North American species. The care of all three is similar.

Preferred growing conditions

• Plant in a fast draining, compost enriched garden loam with full sun or a half day of partial sun. Lilies prefer slightly acid soil and are not a good choice for highly alkaline western soils unless you're willing to regularly acidify the soil with soil sulfur. Avoid clay unless amply amended with ample compost to improve drainage.
• Mulch with commonly available mulch materials to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Cool, moist soil is essential for optimum growth and flowering of lilies.
• Lilies prefer consistent moist soil and need regular irrigation when conditions are dry. They don't like to dry out, but are prone to rot if their planting site is in a depression and accumulates water after a good rain.
• Deadheading keeps the plants looking tidy and help them conserve energy for bulb growth and not seed production. But it will not bring them back into bloom.
• Fertilize generously in the fall with a half and half blend of Yum Yum Mix and good quality compost. This can be repeated in late spring to help build humus levels in their soil.
Special comments
• Oriental lilies are very fragrant, while Asian lilies are not.
• Some of the taller varieties may require staking in windy climates, as they can get up to 6 ft. tall and be top heavy with lots of flowers.
• Cut back to just above ground level in late fall or early spring.
• Mulch heavily with a 2 to 3 inch layer in late fall as the soil begins to freeze. This is especially important when planting new bulbs in zone 3 and 4 climates. If snow cover is not dependable, make fall mulching a regular practice.