Consider the lilies.
From Clemson’s Home and Garden Information Center, “There are about 80 species and several hundred cultivars of lilies (Lilium species) ranging in height from 2 to 8 feet. Lilies make great cut flowers and provide gorgeous color shows during most of the summer season. They are available in white, yellow, red, pink, orange, maroon and bicolor.”
Lilies are a great example of why plant classification matters. Developed by Carolus Linnaeus (1753), the two-name system of genus and species is more reliable than common names. Genus is always a noun which identifies a particular group of related plants. A species is typically an adjective that identifies a distinct subset of the genus. For example, Lilium longiflorum is the Easter lily whose trumpet-shape, pure white blooms fill a room with sweet scent.
Varieties which display unique traits are designated by ‘var’ while cultivars originate in cultivation. For instance, almost all potted Easter lilies are produced by fewer than a dozen growers in a narrow coastal region along the border of California and Oregon. Nellie White is the most common commercially sold cultivar of Lilium longiflorum.
Lily bulbs are grown for three or four years, replanted each year in fields with perfect growing conditions until they reach the right size and maturity. They are then shipped to commercial greenhouse growers throughout North America where they are forced under controlled conditions to flower in time for Easter.
Since Easter falls on a different day each year (the first Sunday following the first full moon of the vernal equinox, which may be anywhere between March 22 and April 25), careful scheduling is critical to ensure perfect blooms during the approximately two-week marketing window. Lilies have been used for centuries in religious and cultural ceremonies and symbolize purity, innocence and hope.
According to the FDA, all lilies in the genus Lilium are poisonous to cats. Like Easter lilies, Asiatic lilies and tiger lilies are true Lilium species. The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in a vase. Handle bulbs carefully.
Lilies need well-drained soil in an area that receives sun or part shade. Ideally, the lily flowers and leaves can receive sun while shading their roots. They need to be kept moist. Fertilize lilies lightly monthly with 5-10-10, starting when the shoots begin to emerge. Tall lilies should be staked and protected from high winds. Mulch well to keep lily roots cool. Remove blooms when they die to prevent seedpod formation. Cut stems off at ground level after they turn brown, but never cut them down while the leaves are still green. And keep them away from the cat.
Many lily-like blooms are actually from completely different families, genus and species. Many flowers that we commonly call by the name of lily are in the amaryllis aamily. For example, rain lilies in the Zephyranthe genus are in the amaryllis family, with numerous cultivars and hybrids.
Hybrids occur when two species are cross-pollinated. Common names for species in this genus include fairy lily, rainflower, zephyr lily, magic lily and atamasco lily. Whatever you call them, a patch of rain lilies can be magical indeed. As a youngster exploring around a neighbor’s pond once upon a time, I came across a bog of rain lilies in full bloom and was instantly captivated. A bed of lilies can be splendid indeed.
Surprise lilies or naked ladies are another bloom in the amaryllis family native to Asia commonly known as lilies. However, naked ladies are in Lycoris species. One of my favorite childhood memories was seeing spider lily (Lycoris radiata) magically appear in late August. These blooms are also known as hurricane lilies because they flower during the height of hurricane season. Spider lilies have bright red, spidery-looking blooms on spikes 12 to 18 inches tall and appear before their foliage emerges.
Calla lilies are in the zantedeschia species. While they may cause contact irritations, these blooms can be cultivated without fear of feline death. Calla lilies are rhizomatous, herbaceous perennials from swampy regions of Eastern and Southern Africa. These plants are known for longevity and resilience.
Lily-of-the-Nile is in the Agapanthus species. a low-maintenance perennial that produces colorful clusters of blue or white trumpet-shaped flowers in summer and fall. Agapanthus has strappy green leaves that add texture to beds, borders, and containers. Many varieties have foliage that is small and grasslike. Others have larger, straplike foliage, much like day lilies. Several varieties of agapanthus are available with variegated foliage that is green with a cream or white stripe down the edge. They may also be toxic, so consider putting agapanthus in a pot safely away from children and pets.
Of course, day lilies (Hemerocallis species) are many gardeners’ favorite plants. They are dependable perennials, they are prolific and colorful bloomers, and they are relatively free of toxic problems or susceptibility to pests. Day lilies are tolerant of drought and flooding, immune to heat stress, tolerant of most soils and grow well in full sun or light shade. They grow well in all areas of South Carolina.
Crinum lilies (Crinum species), also called swamp lilies or milk and wine lilies, are another species in and of themselves. Most bulbs of this species are large, long-lived summer growers and have large, showy, fragrant flowers. Notable crinum grower and landscaper, Jenks Farmer will be the featured speaker at the March 15 Lunchbox Lecture at Millbrook Baptist Church. The lecture starts at noon.
I suppose the moral of this lily story is to do research before investing in a plant. Clemson’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) as well as other extension websites (Georgia, North Carolina, Florida) provide excellent horticultural information ahead of buying, planting, replanting, or bemoaning a plant’s demise.
Knowing characteristics associated with family, genus, species, and cultivars beyond common names certainly help a gardener avoid putting in a plant that might endanger a pet, or one that might be intolerant to heat or cold or diseases. Research helps to place the “right plant” in the “right place” at the right time, for success in any garden. Of course, one can always contact the Master Gardeners.
