Lilium speciosum var. rubrum
lily bulbs
- Position: partial shade
- Soil: moist, acidic soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: July to August
- Flower colour: deep carmine-red
- Hardiness: fully hardy
In late summer and early autumn sprays of large, fragrant, deep carmine-pink flowers with purple-brown stems are produced. The flowers are usually pendant and similar to a turkscap lily, although larger. This lily needs moist, acid soil in partial shade to thrive, so is perfect for naturalising in woodlands. - Garden care: Lilies can be planted at any time from early autumn, to mid-spring. Planting in autumn often helps them settle in and become better established before they start to put on their new spring growth, but spring planting is a better option if your soil is heavy and wet during winter. Choose a sunny spot, preferably where the plant receives a little light shade at its base, and plant each bulb 15-20cm (6-8in) deep in a well-drained soil, enriched with well-rotted organic matter or leaf mould. Space them at approximately 30cm (12") intervals and provide support before the flowers appear. Deadhead the faded blooms promptly and cut the dead stems back to ground level at the end of autumn.
Iris 'Dusky Challenger'
bearded iris
Huge ruffled silky rich purple-blue blooms
× Alcalthaea suffrutescens 'Parkallee'
hollyhock (Syn Alcea × Althaea Parkallee)
Pale yellow, double flowers
Alcea rosea Chater's Double Group maroon-flowered
hollyhock
Adds drama to the cottage garden
Geranium 'Brookside'
cranesbill
Deep blue flowers and long flowering seasons
How to control pests
Containment, rather than complete eradication, is the key to pest management in an organic garden. A certain number of pests have to be tolerated because they are food for the predators – kill all the pests and there is nothing...
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Be on the look out for Lily beetle on prized blooms from June onwards, says Plant Doctor Helen Derrin I would forgive the beautiful lily beetle almost anything apart from eating my lilies! Despite my best efforts, they seem to return...
Read full articlePlant spring bulbs
Spring bulbs, such as daffodils and hyacinths, can be planted whenever the soil conditions allow. As a rough guide, cover them with about twice as much soil as the bulb is deep: so that a 5cm (2in) deep bulb would need a 15cm...
Read full articlePlanting bulbs
Bulbs are ideal for anyone who rates themselves as 'keen-but-clueless' because they are one of the easiest plants to grow. Provided you plant them at the right time of year at more or less the right depth, they will reward...
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