About
Up to 40, nodding, orange, turkscap flowers, with dark purple spots, are produced in late summer and early autumn. A tough, stem-rooting, clump-forming lily with dark purple stems and shiny, narrow, dark green leaves up to 20cm long. Purplish-black bulbils are produced in the upper leaf axils.
About the genus
Lilium are bulbous perennials with erect stems bearing whorled or spirally arranged leaves and terminal racemes or umbels of bowl-shaped, trumpet-shaped, funnel-shaped or turks cap shaped flowers, often fragrant, and white, yellow, orange or red
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Native toE China, Japan, Korea
ToxicityOrnamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten (cats) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationPrefers moist, acid soil enriched with leaf mould or well-rotted organic matter, but will tolerate some lime
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown as soon as ripe; by removing bulblets from parent bulbs as they become dormant; by removing bulbils from the leaf axils; or by scaling. See bulb propagation
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to lily beetle, aphids, slugs, snails, Thrips, leatherjackets, and wireworms, and to damage by rabbits and voles; plants in containers may be susceptible to vine weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds and a virus; see lily diseases