Lily flowers are attractive to many flower growers. They belong to the Liliaceae family. There are approximately 80 varieties of this plant. Numerous varieties and hybrids were produced from them. In this article, you can learn all about lilies.
Flower description
The official name "lily" in translation from the Celtic language means "white". In fact, there are a wide variety of shades of this plant. In the people it is also called a water lily.
For your information! There is also a sea lily - an echinoderm that resembles a flower very much, but has nothing to do with it. These animals are very ancient. Museums store their fossils.
What does it look like
Lily - a flower that is a symbol of the immaculate virgin. It is also used as a talisman stone.
Lily is a plant that grows in Asian countries, on the European part of the globe and on the North American continent.
What does a lily look like?
The variety, as well as the natural conditions and place of growth, affect when lilies bloom.
Lily is a perennial plant. It grows from a bulb. The size of the latter varies from 1 to 30 cm. It can be in the form of a ball or an egg. The stem is straight and even. At its top there are few shoots.
The shape of the lily leaves depends on the type of plant. In some they are in the form of a spiral, in others - in the form of a rosette. Flowers can also be very diverse: star-shaped, flat, tubular, cupped, etc. Flowers form inflorescences. First, those on the bottom are blooming, and then those on the top. Petals are found in a wide variety of colors. Fruits are presented in small boxes, they contain seeds. Propagation can be seed and vegetative.
Fruit
Many are interested in what color lilies are. Breeders brought out the most diverse shades of this plant. A common color is white. Garden views can be orange, yellow, red, etc.
Note! Some varieties have two or three colors. There may also be stripes or dots of purple, lilac or green.
For many years, botanists have been trying to develop a variety of blue or blue.
Classification by V. M. Baranova
According to the classification of V. Baranova, eight stable characters are identified. Based on them, the genus is divided into 11 sections:
- Lilium - horizontal arrangement of flowers, their color is white;
- Eurolirium - drooping flowers, leaves red, green or white;
- Martagon - flowers grow to the sides or up;
- Pseudomartagon - drooping flowers, leaves varied in shape and color;
- Archeltrion - the direction of the flowers to the sides or up;
- Regalia - horizontal arrangement of flowers, perianth snow-white;
- Sinomartagon - drooping flowers;
- Sinolirium - direction of flowers up;
- Pseudolirium - flowers look up, leaves are arranged in turn;
- Nepalensia - flowers directed upwards, perianth in the form of a bell.
Groups of lilies
New hybrids have been breeding for several years. There are about 10 thousand varieties and hybrids. Every year new varieties appear. One of the latter appeared alpine, bush, cone-shaped, night and petal species.
Asian hybrids
Includes the largest number of varieties (5000). The species included in this group are not whimsical to care for. They easily adapt to new conditions and tolerate frost and shade.
Asian look
Curly
The flowers of Dutch selection have strongly twisted petals. The group has other names: locust, curly, Turkish. Varieties are common in the forests of Europe and Siberia. The color of the petals can be orange, purple or yellow. Resistant to severe street frosts. Bloom for three weeks.
Snow white
A distinctive feature - snow-white petals with a slightly beige tint. Petals are rounded or have sharp edges. Diameter of flowers is 10-12 cm. Varieties require careful care and good lighting.
American
Distinctive features - a stem reaching 1.8 m, a combination of several colors, petals have specks, buds of a conical, bell-shaped or tubular shape.
American hybrid
Long flowered
Varieties bred from Asian tropical species. They are not resistant to frost. In this regard, in Russian conditions they are grown in greenhouses or at home. The flowers are in the form of large bells. In height, they can reach up to 15 cm. The stem grows up to a meter.
Tubular and Orleans
The class includes about a thousand species that have a strong smell. The buds bloom in July. Varieties are unpretentious and tolerate frosts well. Resistant to disease. They need to be planted in well-lit places. The stalk reaches 190 cm.
For your information! This species is popular among gardeners, thanks to large heads.
Oriental hybrids
They grow in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Resistant to disease and frost. They have large flowers, reaching 25 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers can be white, pink and raspberry. In some species, a gold stripe runs through the center. In some species, flowering begins in early August, in others - in early autumn.
East hybrid
Interspecific
These varieties are the most modern. They are obtained by crossing different species and combine the very best qualities. They can be very large. Several varieties of this group were bred:
- LA hybrids - Asian and long-flowered species crossed;
- OA hybrids - a combination of Oriental and Asian;
- OT hybrids - eastern and tubular groups;
- LO hybrids are oriental and long-flowered species.
Species
This is a wild perennial group. Their sizes are small. It is difficult to grow such lilies in the garden, as they do not tolerate frost. They have a strong smell.
Economic value and application
Lilies are used in perfumery. It is believed that their aroma is able to calm the nervous system.
Important! Some varieties are poisonous. They have pollen and juice contain poison.
In Siberia and the Far East they eat oat and two-row lily bulbs.
Use in landscape design
With the right combination of decorative lilies with other plants, it is possible to create very beautiful flower beds that will delight you with flowers all summer. Red lilies are perfectly combined with peonies and delphiniums, juniper, astilbe and alissum. Often in the pools use water lilies.
Orange lily is combined with plants that have large and spreading leaves. A good background for them would be barberries, mahonia, euonymus.
Tall varieties are planted as a background or as a hedge. Flowers look beautiful in the foreground of trees. Low grades accentuate the track.
Lily combined with other plants
What lilies are suitable for growing
When caring for and growing in the garden for lilies, remember that they do not like changing places. The area for the flower should be well lit. Also, garden lily should grow on a site protected from strong winds. The soil needs loose, drained and nutritious.
Important! For better flower growth before planting, ash should be added to the soil for a month.
They are fed with mineral fertilizers, humus and peat.
When choosing a bulb should be guided by the following recommendations:
- the bulb should be strong;
- there should be no damage and rot;
- root length - 5 cm.
Common
The ordinary form has a unbranched simple stem. Leaves are arranged in a spiral. In some species, leaves form whorls. The stem may be densely covered with leaves, and may be with a rare arrangement. Perianth includes six leaves. In height, the plant reaches from 15 to 150 cm. In the center of the flower is 6 pcs. stamens with anthers and one pistil.
Its cultivation occurs according to the classical scheme.
Pyramidal
The pyramidal lily belongs to the Asian group. The leaves of the pyramidal plants are arranged in a spiral. After planting, flowering begins in a year. Perianth leaves are connected by a funnel. A cup-shaped bud resembling a pyramid. Pyramidal species have practically no odor. The cascading view reaches the peak of beauty in the third year. Among the varieties, the most popular is the Monomakh Hat.
Pyramidal lily
Planting and caring for the pyramidal lily flower is as follows:
- disembarkation is made in the middle of spring;
- moderate watering required;
- necessarily loosening in open ground;
- need fertilizing with nitrogen and complex fertilizers;
- garter if necessary.
Note! Colony-shaped lily is also called pyramidal.
Lily is a flower beloved by many. She is a frequent decoration in the garden. There is a huge variety of species and varieties, so each grower will pick up something worthwhile for himself. In planting and care, the flower is undemanding, the main thing is to plant and care correctly.
