Masses of creamy white trumpets flushed with claret on the backs of the petals.
Order Code: 31-4
Lilium regale
The RHS Award of Garden Merit is awarded for ease of cultivation, excellence and constitution but not necessarily hardiness. Who would be without lilies? To grow them well remember that they mostly come from areas of high rainfall but very well drained soils (often on hillsides). So they do need access to moisture and for that (in our drier climate) one needs to bury lots of good well rotted humus or muck under them. Your reward will be towering stems with large, colourful flowers, often with a huge scent, that should go on for years ! Fragrant white flowers flushed pink in summer 36" tall.
Planting instructions
Plant the bulbs with at least 5" of soil over the bulb (this will add support to the stem and some varieties are stem rooting), allowing 8" at least between plants (unless you are cramming them into pots).
Be careful of the lily beetle (for which we have no answer). Vigilance in picking off the larvae and squashing any adults is all that works without chemicals.