Notholirion thomsonianum

RHS Plant Profile

Thomson's lily

Other common names

rosy Himalayan lily

Synonyms

Lilium longifolium

Conservatory Greenhouse Bulbs

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A bulbous perennial with narrow, bright green, strap-shaped leaves, up to 45cm at the base, shorter on the stems. The scented, pale lilac-pink, lily-like flowers are produced in spikes of 10 to 30 in early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Liliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Notholirion are perennial bulbs with narrowly lance-shaped basal leaves in a tuft, and erect stems bearing racemes of funnel-shaped flowers in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: W Himalaya, Afghanistan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant 10-15cm deep in autumn. Outdoors plant in deep, humus-rich, moist but well drained soil in a sunny position. Provide protection during severe or prolonged frosts. Under glass plant in large containers of peat-free potting compost with added leaf mould and sharp sand in bright, filtered light.

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or by separating bulblets in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering and allow foliage to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free