Lilium Leucanthum Cultivation

Growing from Seed

• Trumpet lilies germinate in 15 to 25 days, but the flower-forming bulb will not reach maturity for several seasons and will only produce a few flowers in the second year. You can collect the seed in late fall by harvesting the seed pods. You then remove the seeds from the pod and let them dry for a few days before blowing out any chaff. Store seed in the freezer until spring. Sowing indoors is done in a seed flat filled with potting soil that is well moistened. The lily seeds need warm ambient temperatures of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate.

Soil and Situation

• The most common issue for lily growers is moldy or rotten bulbs. The soil must be well drained and, leucanthum in particular, is intolerant of soggy soils. It is always advisable to check the drainage of a planting area by digging a trench and filling it with water. A 6-inch-deep trench should drain within half an hour. Most soils can easily be amended with the addition of sand or some other grit to increase the tilth and allow moisture to drain. Lilies prefer slightly acidic soil and partial sun locations.

Planting Out

• Lily bulbs are planted in either fall or spring. If your zone is apt to extreme freezing temperatures it is probably best to wait until spring and keep the bulbs in refrigeration until then. Temperate and warmer climates can plant them in fall without worrying about cracking and mushy bulbs from freeze damage. Bulbs should be buried three times their diameter in depth. Lily starts from seed can be sown as soon as the last frost date has passed in well-drained soil.

Care

• Slugs and snails are main enemies of lily flowers. During dryer springs, the trumpet lily needs supplemental watering to keep the water evenly moist. Care should be taken not to over water as this can cause fusarium rot and mold. Fertilize lilies with an acid-lovers fertilizer in very early spring to get the best blooms. After the flowers are done the stems are cut back to the ground but the foliage remains to produce food for the bulb. Over time the leucanthum will produce offset bulbs or scales which you can pull off the parent and plant for additional lilies.