Lilies

As the weeks have gone by here in our new home, we have made many discoveries. A recent one is the number of lilies tucked away in various corners of the property.

Easter lily

I adore daylilies, but haven't grown many true lilies so I had some research to do.

First, what is a true lily?

"Lilium is a genus of bulbous perennials grown for their very showy, often fragrant flowers. Among the 100 species, there are four main flower shapes: trumpet, bowl, recurved, and funnel. Various lilies bloom from spring to fall, giving rise to early season, midseason, and late season designations. There are 8 divisions of hybrids: Asiatic, Martagon, Candidum, American, Longiflorum, Trumpet and Aurelian, Oriental, and Other, plus one division of all true species. Lilies are useful in woodland gardens and wild areas, as cut flowers, and even in containers or rock gardens, depending on the species.

Noteworthy characteristics:  Showy flowers and potent fragrance. Widely adaptable to many uses.

Care:  Provide well-drained, highly organic soil in full sun, with the lily's "feet" in shade. Most lilies prefer acidic or neutral soils, but some prefer alkaline soils. See individual listings."  (http://www.finegardening.com/lily-lilium)

Next, what I the difference between a true lily and a daylily?

"We would all hate to lose the sentimental charm of common plant names, but there are times when it helps to know the Latin botanical name as well. One of those times is when trying to tell the difference between true lilies (Lillium) and Daylilies (Hemerocallis).
While Lilium are pretty much always called lilies, many of us casually refer to daylilies simply as lilies, too. For the most part, who cares? However if you’re looking for a particular plant, if you’re researching how to grow the plant you have, and if you’re wondering why your lilies die when you cut them to bring inside, it will be a great help to know the difference between lilies and daylilies. Fortunately, it’s easy to tell the two plants apart by looking at the leaves, flower stems and how they grow." (https://www.thespruce.com/)

According to this website, the basic differences are:
1. Lilies are grown from bulbs; daylilies are grown from tuberous roots.
2. Lily blooms last for a week or more; daylily blooms last for a day.
3. Lilies grow from one central unbranched stem with the blooms forming at the top; daylilies have long, flat strap-shaped blades that grow in clumps.

There are other differences, but let's keep it simple.

Apparently I am not the only person confused by the true lily/not lily question...

• Canna lilies are not true lilies.
• Ordinary orange daylilies found along the roadside are sometimes called ditch lilies and, as we have learned, are not true lilies.
• Gladiolas are also known as cowboy lilies or corn lilies, but are not true lilies.
• Crinums are sometimes called chicken gizzard lilies, but are not true lilies.
• Irises have been called the fleur-de-lis lily.
• Spider lilies, hurricane lilies, and schoolhouse lilies aren't true lilies either.

I don't feel quite as ignorant!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;

they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you,

that even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

-Matthew 7: 28-29