About

Love Story' is a bulbous perennial with leafy stems to around 80cm tall. Large, scented, upward-facing flowers, deep pink with a narrow, white picotee edge, are produced in mid- to late summer.

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, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeBulbs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
FragranceFlower
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

CultivationGrow in moist but well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould or well-rotted organic matter; ideal in patio pots, see growing lilies in containers for further information
PruningNo pruning required; tidy by deadheading spent flowers
PropagationPropagate by offsets after the foliage dies down
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to lily beetle, aphids and slugs; plants in pots are vulnerable to vine weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds and a virus. See lily diseases