Lilium speciosum (IXb-c/d)
showy Japanese lily
A vigorous, stem-rooting lily to 1.5m with erect, purple-flushed stems and scattered 18cm long leaves. In late summer and early autumn it produces sprays of up to 12 large, fragrant, turk's-cap flowers up to 18cm across pale pink or white, flushed darker pink in the centre and with dark pink spots
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Purple | Pink White | Green | |
| Autumn | Green Purple | Pink White | Green | |
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten (cats) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
- Genus
Lilium are bulbous perennials with erect stems bearing whorled or spirally arranged leaves and terminal racemes or umbels of bowl-shaped, trumpet-shaped, funnel-shaped or turks cap shaped flowers, often fragrant, and white, yellow, orange or red
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Needs a moist, acid soil and partial shade
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown, when ripe, in containers in a cold frame or separate offsets after the foliage dies down
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to lily beetle, aphids, slugs, snails, Thrips, leatherjackets, and wireworms, and to damage by rabbits and voles; plants in containers may be susceptible to vine weevil
Diseases
May be susceptible to grey moulds and a virus; see lily diseases
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