Lilium 2019

[Gail]

I've had Lilium candidum in flower in 2 years.

[Véronique Macrelle]

and have you found a way to protect the bulbs from rodents? it's a scourge for lilies in my garden.

 I also managed L. formosanum in 2 years.. .

[Gail]

and have you found a way to protect the bulbs from rodents? it's a scourge for lilies in my garden.

The neighbours' cats were very thorough in that role but sadly two have been killed by cars in the past year. Currently I have a pair of squirrels trying to make their way through all my potted bulbs.

[Véronique Macrelle]

I think I'm going to have to lock the bulbs in a mesh pocket!
 I have already had several henryi species, (2.5 m high), wild martagon (5 flowering bulbs), formosanum, bulbiferum .. which were completely devoured. only one hole remained with some debris of scales. .. hopeless !
 my new Lilium henryi from seed  is tiny  (only 1 germinated seed)

or should you plant them in a large pot, put them in the ground with their pot and take them out of the ground in winter?

but I prefer plants that acclimatize and stay in the ground all year round.

[Leena]

Rick, very informative series of photos.

[/i].. which were completely devoured. only one hole remained with some debris of scales. .. hopeless !

About ten years ago there were many voles in the garden, and they dug and moved many martagon bulbs to their underground food storages (and ate them  ). However, some years after that disaster I noticed martagons starting to grow in odd places and now they have been flowering again and doing well. There were obviously scales left in the ground and the lilies started to grow from them again, so they were not lost after all. Perhaps it is their ability to grow from scales which makes it possible for them to grow without anyone caring for them in abandoned farms or places where no-one lives any more.

[Rick R.]

And some observations regarding the little hypogeal lily seed bulbs:
--- bulb initiation occurs before root initiation. In the pic below, in #1, the "stem" (not a root) looks as though it was broken off at the tip. But no. The "stem" abruptly stops elongating, and this is where the bulb begins to develop. Then the root grows from there, as seen in #2.
--- Time lapsed from #1 to #2, about two days at 60-65°F.
--- Time lapsed from #2 to #3, about three days at 60-65°F.
--- Time lapsed from #3 to #4, about three days at 60-65°F.
--- Normally the "stem" between the bulb and the seed would be straight, growing vertically downward, as the purpose is to position the bulb deeper in the soil. However normal growth is compromised and constricted in the little baggies, hence the weird twists and turns.

[Maggi Young]

Fascinating pix  and  most  helpful, Rick, thanks!!

[Véronique Macrelle]

yes it is really very interesting.