Dirty Fingers Muddy Knees | Tiger Lily (Lilium flore-pleno)

A Lily By Any Other Name…

by Susan | Aug 12, 2016 | Plants I Dig

Maybe because Susan actually means ‘Lily’ do I feel a connection with lilies. They are usually bold in colors and fragrance, tough and durable in the garden. Humm…

Many types of plants are called lily, from Agapanthus to Voodoo lily. Here are a few of my favorites that are in the lilium family.

Lilium ‘Black Beauty’ is a lovely dark pink/red with black stems. Some variations of pictures online show more pink with green stems. It is robust, and long lasting. Loves full sun or part shade and is hardy to Zone 3. Available in bulbs but I would try and choose one in flower so you can see if the stems are lovely and black.

Lilium rosthornii is an uncommonly interesting lily from China. Three foot stems carry large, vivid orange flowers whose narrow petals are recurved into an impossible backbend. The exposed faces of the petals fairly bristle with polyp-like papillose projections while the revealed open throat displays a small dark green star. The bumps are intriguing and the color is amazing. Hardy to zone 5a, Sun or part Sun with 3 foot stem.

Lilium taliense came to me this year from Windcliff plants. Originally from Fanjingshan, China it is happy in my garden. It has a beautiful form with strongly reflex yellow petals spotted in dark red. Likes even moist soil, and will form colonies over time. Full sun, looks to be hardy to zone 5.

Tall and bold is the double flowering Lilium lancifolium ‘Floro Pleno’. Originally purchased because of its double-ness I now love it because of its boldness in the tropical garden. It can look a little strange and congested but it really doesn’t care. It simply grows and ignores attempts by snails to eat it. It grows about 4 ft tall in full sun. It likes good moisture but can take a little neglect. Zones 4 – 9.

Here are the lilies in the Tropical garden. They will mix well with other perennials also but I love them with the fat juicy colors of tropical plants.

Name That Plant: Orange Answers

by Susan | Sep 11, 2015 | gardening, plants

Yes, even pumpkins can be beautiful. I love orange in the garden and even when I’m growing pumpkins I enjoy the color. This fabulous thing is a Warty Thing Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima). Yes these are giant and lovely, a great eating squash and good for pies. Could make a super scary jack o lantern!! Grab seeds next year from (link) Botanical Interests Seeds.

Lush Begonia Non-stops are a must have every year. I just can’t leave them alone at the nursery and add to my collection each year. Try the Non-Stop apricot for amazing combinations of orange, yellow and peach. Take a look on the Little Bytes page for more information on over wintering the tubers each year.

Anything tropical that will prove hardy always has a place in my garden. The hardy hedychium densiflorum is easy to grow and is a spectacular accent. This one has moved with me several times and more is always available at (Link) Far Reaches Farms.

Just last night I hear Helen Dillon (Irish garden fame) mention this plant in her garden. This is a canna musaefolia (syn canna musifolia) or Banana Canna. Named for its banana like foliage it is lush, tropical and perfectly hardy at zone 7.

Crocosmia Venus tagged along with an Agapanthus that I brought from my old garden. It pushes its way into the mix and has to compete with some shade but is a bright spot against the red banana leaves in the background. Nils Sundquist from Sundquist nursery grows this and many other lovely crocosmias.

The bright sunny Echinacea ‘Sombrero Adobe Orange’ is new to me this year. I love the fact it has various shades of orange/pink/peach on the same plant. The flowers change as they age. Recommended to my by one of the growers at TandL Nursery I agree with their pick. It has a strong growing habit and seems to be a prolific bloomer.

Graceful with recurving petals the Lily (Lilium Rosthornii) from Far Reaches Farms is also new to my garden this year. I have several others including a double Tiger Lily (Lilium flore-pleno). Unbelievably brilliant!

How about a little Orange Garden Art? Tucking in the orange birdbath on a rusty stand with a Chocolate Silk Mimosa Tree (albizia julibrissin “Summer Chocolate’) adds a punch of color and contrasting textures.

Chocolate Silk Mimosa Tree (albizia julibrissin “Summer Chocolate’)

Speaking of garden art. I repeat the theme here with orange glass and Canna Intrique. It also blooms orange –here is a picture of the orange flower! Zow. ( Insert picture of flower here. )

More Begonias and more begonias, I told you I couldn’t help myself. The Begonia ‘Sparks will fly’ has very cool dark foliage, while the bright green foliage of Begonia Boliviensis ‘Bonfire Orange’ has a fernlike texture mixed with other ferny things under the apple tree. Bright orange in the shade is a must.

This Dahlia has a funny story behind it. I was shopping for a customer’s bright orange in a blue/orange bed. The recommendation from the grower was Dahlia ‘mystic spirit’. Well it came in and was not a great clear orange but a peachy/pink. It would not go with the other hot colors in the bed. So as often happens I just dumped the dahlias in an empty spot in my garden. Not exactly overjoyed with them but not willing for them to die either. NOW they are really coming into a good sturdy bloom and the flowers are a great soft orange. Not at all like the blooms that were first on them, hard to figure out, maybe a fertilizing thing (they get none now). BUT I’m liking them and they may get to stay after all. Love the dark foliage on them.

I hope you have enjoyed this visit through the orange in my garden. I will admit this isn’t it. There are a few more orange flowers that I may share with you another time.