Master Gardeners of Lubbock

Consider the Lilies

by Liz Smitten, Certified Master Gardener

Originally printed in Avalanche Journal gardening supplement, spring, 2004

I love lilies, and many of them are among the easiest plants to grow in West Texas. In the family Liliaceae we usually think of three major kinds: the Asiatic, the Aurelian, and the Oriental, which bloom in that order beginning in late spring, mid summer, and late summer. The Aurelian and Oriental lilies do not do as well here because of our prolonged hot and dry growing season, but the Asiatic lilies, following on the heels of our spring bulbs, have completed their bloom period well before the dog days of summer. In addition, they are generally shorter and do not require staking; after the first year or two they will colonize readily, providing masses of beauty in the mixed perennial bed. These lilies are available in many colors, so gardeners can choose their favorite cultivars, from the delicate pastels to the vivid yellows, golds, and reds. Asiatic lily bulbs, which resemble an artichoke in that they have overlapping scales, do not require a period of chilling, and should be planted immediately in garden soil amended with organic material to help retain moisture and provide good drainage Lilies will rot if their little bottoms are sitting in consistently damp soil. A top dressing of mulch enhances the look of the garden, and provides a cooler root zone, which lilies also appreciate.

Another member of the Liliaceae family is the daylily, which is extremely popular in this part of Texas. In the past, the common orange daylily could be found in roadside ditches in many parts of the country. Since hybridizing daylilies began, over 20,000 named cultivars have been developed and the gardener can select plants not only for color, but for early, mid or late season bloom periods, and by height. Some daylilies will re-bloom, some are evergreen in our climate, a few, such as the lemon yellow ‘Hyperion’, are lightly scented, and the tetraploids, which are bred with twice the normal number of chromosomes, have a more lush and velvety characteristic to their flowers. Daylilies do best in full sun to lightly dappled shade, tolerate a variety of soils, and appreciate regular moderate watering, but often thrive in situations where they have been neglected or ignored.

While we think of them as lilies, the amaryllis, miniature amaryllis, and rain lily actually belong to the family amaryllidaceae, and also make pleasing accents in the garden. I grow the traditional holiday amaryllis indoors in a south-facing window throughout the winter and plant them in the garden in late spring. Usually they take a year or two to re-establish themselves, and are not always reliable bloomers, particularly if we have a harsh winter or late spring freeze.

Rhodophiala Bifida, a small plant with a big name, has an exquisite miniature amaryllis shape to its flowers. It is native to Argentina, where it is called the hurricane lily because of its blooming season in South America. The bulbs were originally brought to Texas by German settlers from the Argentine, and are considered a Texas heirloom plant. Because it blooms in late August and early September, it was planted by the settlers around their schoolhouses and has become known as the schoolhouse lily in most parts of Texas. The schoolhouse lily, at eight to ten inches and with true red flowers, can be planted in sun or dappled shade, colonizes without needing dividing, is dormant in summer so needs no supplemental watering, and does well in alkaline soils.

To grow any of these lilies successfully, always follow the instructions for planting depths, light, soil, and nutrient requirements, then relax and enjoy the lilies of your field!

For more gardening information in Lubbock, visit the Lubbock Garden Clubs site.