Lily-tree: planting and care in the open field, description of varieties with photos

Surely, every gardener would dream of growing an unusual lily flower that looks like a tree on his plot. It is worth noting that such a culture does not exist in nature. Any variety of lily is called a tree, which, subject to certain rules of agricultural technology, is able to achieve high growth. Often in gardening stores, the buyer is attracted by a loud name, but this is nothing more than a marketing ploy. However, it is quite possible to grow a lily that resembles a tree on a plot; for this, they study which varieties are the tallest, how to plant them correctly, and the subtleties of caring for a plant.

What is a lily tree

Lily-tree is not a specific, artificially bred variety of culture, but simply a generalized name for representatives of this family, capable of reaching high growth under certain conditions, almost like a tree. The hybrid, characterized by huge size and called Goliath, was bred by Canadian breeders. During the flowering period (which happens once every 5 years), the flower tree is covered with huge buds that exude a delicate aroma and have a variety of colors.

Perennial bulbous plant with hollow stems and heart-shaped leaves. Lily flowers vary in shape - turban-shaped, cup-shaped or long-tubular. But all of them are kept on very powerful stems, somewhat reminiscent of branches of young trees. The diameter of flowers of lily-trees is impressive - about 30 cm, they bloom in the middle of summer and delight the eye for a month.

Popular Representatives

Among the many hybrids of lilies, there are representatives that reach 2 meters in height with proper care. For the first time, a description of such crops appeared in the catalog of the Dutch company Breck's LLS. However, this is not a new variety, but all the same OT hybrids of lilies, however, they are distinguished by a more powerful stem and fast growth. They have been repeatedly improved and refined, improving their characteristics.

If a gardener decides to grow a lily tree on his plot, it is recommended to opt for one of these hybrids:

Scheherazade. A tall hybrid was obtained as a result of crossing oriental and tubular varieties. Only with proper care, the lily turns into a mini-tree as tall as a human being. The flowers of Scheherazade reach a diameter of 27-30 cm and are cup-shaped. In addition to the intoxicating aroma, lily buds have a wide palette of shades: there are yellow, and red, and orange, and pink representatives.
Anastasia. On average, the culture reaches 2 meters in height and is distinguished by rather large buds (about 30 cm). Among all OT hybrids, Anastasia is characterized by gardeners most positively. Due to the unpretentiousness of the plant and the wonderful aroma of flowers, it is grown commercially for cutting into bouquets. Another plus of Anastasia is the increased resistance of the lily to transportation.
Donato. The color of the huge lily buds is purple-red, and only on the neck is a yellowish color visible. It reaches a height of 2 meters, but only with proper care.
Preti Wumen. Another representative of tall OT hybrids with funnel-shaped flowers. During the flowering period, the fragrance of lilies is felt far beyond the site.

Advantages and disadvantages

Lily trees have not only advantages, but also some disadvantages that the gardener evaluates at the stage of growing planning.

Undeniable pluses include:

Effective appearance of a lily tree.
Great flowers.
Bright and rich aroma of buds.
Powerful peduncle capable of holding up to 30 flowers.
Ability to grow and develop even in acidic soils.
Early start of the vegetation process.

The disadvantages of growing such crops include:

Need for a spacious yard.
Compliance with certain rules of care.
Sensitive to close groundwater.
The need to create a support.

Features of cultivation

The right place for growing a lily tree and preparing planting material primarily determines how high the culture will reach.

Location

Lily loves sunlight, but it should be diffused. Direct rays will cause foliage burns and bud burnout. In addition, a place is selected protected from drafts and gusts of wind, otherwise the tall stems of the plant will not withstand such exposure and will break.

Despite the fact that the culture loves moisture, close-lying groundwater will lead to root rot. Gardeners share such a trick - undersized flowers are planted around the lily, which protect the tree from sunlight and prevent moisture from evaporating.

Slightly acidic and neutral soil is ideal for growing hybrids, and calcareous soil is highly discouraged. The earth must have increased water permeability and be nutritious. Otherwise, provide an additional drainage layer.

Planting material

Bulbs of tall lily hybrids are purchased only in specialized stores, where the gardener will be provided with a certificate of conformity. Since planting material is not cheap, in natural markets there is a high probability of running into scammers who pass off ordinary lily bulbs as OT hybrids.

Before planting, the lilies are prepared - they inspect the bulbs for the presence of mold, rot, dry scales. Such material will not give full-fledged plants. Bulbs are pre-soaked in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate, it will not be superfluous to also treat each specimen with a growth stimulator.

Fitting technology

Lily trees are planted both in spring and autumn. In the first case, it is recommended to do this in the last days of April or in May. In the second, the first half of September is suitable, so that before the onset of cold weather, the bulbs can take root and adapt in a new place.

The algorithm for planting hybrid trees in open ground looks like this:

A layer of sand is poured at the bottom of each hole, its depth should be about 20 cm.
Gently press the onion into the prepared hole and cover with fertile soil on top.
Plentifully water the lilies with not cold water.
The surface is mulched using peat or dry leaves.

When planting, a distance of 1 meter between lilies is observed so that plants do not have to compete for nutrients and moisture.

Tree Lily Care Tips

The height of the lily tree and how effectively it will bloom depends on the observance of agricultural technology.

Irrigation

When moisturizing lily trees, regularity and measure are observed. Despite the fact that the culture is moisture-loving, especially during the period of budding and flowering, excess moisture adversely affects the state of the root system. The optimal frequency of irrigation is once a week. Increase the amount of watering is recommended only in very dry weather. Then they do it twice a week.

Feeding

Without the addition of nutrients, it will not work to grow a lily that resembles a tree.Fertilize from the moment when the first leaves appear on the plant. Both mineral and organic compounds are used. They also purchase complex formulations in gardening stores designed specifically for bulbous flowers. To achieve the required height of the lily tree, the culture is periodically fed with growth stimulants.

The only thing strictly forbidden to fertilize a hybrid lily is fresh manure. Such top dressing will provoke an outbreak of fungal diseases, and the plant will have to be destroyed.

The last time fertilizer is applied in mid-August, before preparing the crop for winter.

Mulching

Laying a mulching layer is especially advisable in the southern regions. This prevents evaporation of moisture from the soil and makes it possible to reduce the amount of irrigation. Mulch is also a natural barrier to weeds, so frequent weeding is not necessary. Peat, humus, fallen leaves or sawdust are used as mulch for lilies.

Cutting

When preparing for winter in autumn, lily stems are not recommended to be cut at the root. Leave a minimum height of 10-18 cm.

Support

Without a strong support, it will not be possible to grow a full-fledged lily tree. The stem will simply break under the weight of the buds. Wooden pegs or plastic pipes are used as a support.

Wintering

In the first year of planting, cover with plastic wrap so that fragile plants do not freeze. In subsequent years, it is enough to carry out autumn moisture-charging watering and cover the lilies with spruce branches or special covering material, for example, lutrasil.

Diseases, pests and methods of dealing with them

The most dangerous diseases and pests for the lily tree are:

Grey rot. The reason is an excess of moisture and the presence of weeds near the plantings of lily hybrids. The parts damaged by the disease are removed, and these places are treated with a fungicide, for example, Fundazol.
Fusariosis. A fungus that develops on bulbs and roots, with high humidity and an excessive amount of nitrogen in fertilizers. Potassium permanganate solution is effective for treatment.
Spider mite. It settles on the foliage of a lily and drinks juice from the culture. Effectively fight with a solution of green soap or any insecticide, such as Aktara.

Reproduction

The lily tree is bred in several ways.

Scales

The upper scales are separated from the mother bulb, placed in a plastic bag with a substrate and waiting for the roots to germinate. Be sure to make several holes in the bag so that the lilies do not suffocate.

Stem cuttings

The fastest method, which involves separating the green stem from the stem of the lily in the spring. It must be treated with "Kornevin" and planted on a prepared garden bed. At first, young lilies are covered with polyethylene or glass.

Seeds

This is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming method, more often used by breeders to develop new lily hybrids.

Nest division

Near the mother bulb, daughter bulbs are formed over time, which are used for further reproduction of tree lilies. The method is simple and suitable even for beginner gardeners.

Examples in landscape design

The lily tree itself becomes the main attraction and decoration of the site. In the company, undersized plants are selected for him. Lily compositions with creeping crops, for example, loosestrife or tenacious, also look beautiful.