Name:
Oriental Lily

Botanical name:
Lilium

Description:
The Oriental lily, also known as Lilium Oriental hybrids, is a summer flowering herbaceous bulb developed from crossing East Asian species to increase flower size and produce a greater colour range.

The plant carries several flowers on the one stem with flower shapes varying from bowl-shaped, trumpet, flat-faced and recurved types.

Petal colours range from white, pink, apricot, plum and yellow hues. The petal shading is lighter on the edge and darkens towards the petal’s mid-rib with spotting in its centre. The six prominent anthers contain pollen known to stain and are often removed when the lily is cut for floral displays.

The plant’s shiny green leaves are arranged in a spiral. After flowering during summer, the plant dies and remains dormant until spring.

The bulbs, which comprise of overlapping fleshy sections or scales, store starch to fuel next year’s bloom and to reproduce more bulbs. Bulbs are best planted at a depth of 10 centimetres below ground level, positioned in full sun with good draining loam soil with a neutral to acid soil pH. Of course in these drought conditions mulching will always assist in reducing evaporation as well as providing a cool root zone by minimising fluctuating temperatures underground.

Mass planting Oriental lilies can achieve a dramatic visual impact. If planted as groups in front of other mixed shrubbery this will provide good wind protection and add seasonal colour to the overall display.

Left undisturbed the lily will multiply naturally over the years. With the support of the whole group, they can also provide baseline support for top heavy plants in the display.

Where can they be seen in the Parklands:
The cultivar pictured is known as Stargazer and will reach its flowering peak in January in the Column Garden, located in Parkes Drive, Centennial Park.