Lilium lancifolium Tiger Lily

Lilium lancifolium (L. tigrinum) Tiger Lily, Devil Lily, Kenten.

Lilium lancifolium Tiger Lily

L. lancifolium ‘Flore Pleno’

The botanists are still fighting over its correct name but I think this name Lilium lanciflorum is winning. However many people will know this plant a Lilium tigrinum or Tiger lily. It has also had an earlier name L.sinense (Nois ex Stead).

It is also believed to be a very old and ancient hybrid between Lilium maculatum and L. leichtlinii. It has been described as lily in cultivation in the world. This botanical investigation is backed up by modern science as its chromosome numbers identify it as a triploid. This makes it a vigorous plant and because of its triploid nature it does not produce seed.

A native of China, Japan and Korea it is found growing in a number of locations and soil types but it does not like lime or limestone areas. In the wild the flowers vary in colour from a dark yellow to a dark orange with purple or black spots on the petals. In these countries the bulbs were consumed as food up to 1000 years ago.

Its does not like lime soils and in ideal soils and poor soils without lime it will quickly naturalise large areas quite quickly. In Britain it is heavily infected with a virus but still manages to naturalise large areas. It is recommended not to grow this lily in close proximity to other lilies as the virus will spread to them as well.

It is easy to grow and forms a large bulb and the new stems grow rapidly each year up to abut 1.5 metres tall. Long narrow lanceolate leaves protrude from the stem. Depending on location and parentage of the clone they can be quite hairy with lots or a little of white cobwebby long hairs on the stem and leaves. Set at the base of the leaves is a small bulbil which can be planted in the ground to rapidly increase this plant.

It is widely grown and depending upon size can produce up to 25 flowers in a head born on black stems. The most common colour is deep bright orange petals and sepals heavily marked with dark purple spots. The pollen is purple brown in colour. Some clones will be a little softer in colour.

This bold display of flowers appears in NZ in January. They hang from stems and have reflexed petals (and sepals) creating a nodding Turks Cap flower.

There are a few cultivars grown in gardens

L. lancifolium ‘Flore Pleno’ (l.l. Florabunda) which has large double flowers.

L. lancifolium ‘Giganteum’ a larger growing form

L. lancifolium ‘Splendens’  with large glossy flowers of a rich salmon red colour.

L. lancifolium var flaviflorum a yellow purple spotted form which does set seed.

L. lancifolium var. fortunei with densely woolly stems

L. lancifolium var. simplex a single flowered form

L. lancifolium var. plenescens which has six series of petals and sepals.

This easy to grow lily makes a fine show in mid summer in any garden. It will increase and naturalise quickly.

Leeks

Leeks, some people like them some people don’t. There seems to be a constant debate about the likes and dislikes of leeks. Strange that as leeks belong to the onion family and there is a lot less discussion about the likes and dislikes of onions.

Leeks are hardy and very easy to grow but require a long growing season to achieve a good size. Seed is sown in spring and seedlings either pricked out into containers to grow on a little more or if sown thinly in the ground allow them to grow to about 150mm high.

Once they have reached this size prepare the ground for planting out. Fork the ground deeply and level. Remove the leeks from their growing position and separate the leeks and tease the roots out. Use a large fat dibber and plant them in a row quite deeply so that the base of the leek plant is several centimetres underground. This will blanch the base of the leek plant making it tender and mellow in flavour.

Keep the leeks well watered and weed free through the summer. If you would like longer, blanched leeks mound up a little soil against the stems.

One of the problems with transplanted leeks it that they occasionally go to seed. Proper teasing out of the roots at planting time will usually prevent that happening.

Once they are of a reasonable size they can be harvested when needed direct from the garden. It is usually used as a winter vegetable.

Leeks are used in casseroles, stir fry’s, or other combination meals. They can be chopped and fried in butter or olive oil as a vegetable. Leeks were cooked and served with a white sauce but this seems to be less common now.

Lilium auratum - Photo essay