Lilium 'Dark Secret'

RHS Plant Profile
lily 'Dark Secret'

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lily 'Dark Secret' visionspictures.com
lily 'Dark Secret' visionspictures.com
lily 'Dark Secret' visionspictures.com
Bulbs

A bulbous perennial producing a strong, upright stem to 90cm in height, clothed in shiny, dark green, lance-shaped leaves. In mid to late summer these are topped with a cluster of large upward-facing, trumpet-shaped, dark purple flowers, turning darker and blackish towards the centre. These contrast with bright orange anthers

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Sand, Loam, Clay, Chalk

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

Sand Loam Clay Chalk
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Liliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright, Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten (cats) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Lilium are bulbous perennials with erect stems bearing whorled or spirally arranged leaves and terminal racemes or umbels of bowl-shaped, trumpet-shaped, funnel-shaped or turks cap shaped flowers, often fragrant, and white, yellow, orange or red
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant bulbs in autumn, 15cm deep, in moist but well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould or well-rotted organic matter, in a sheltered position, with the base of the plant in shade, for example from ground-cover plants, and the rest of the plant in full sun; for more advice, see growing lilies in containers

Propagation

Propagate by division: separate offsets after the leaves have died down

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Low Maintenance
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required; tidy by deadheading spent flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to lily beetle, aphids, slugs, snails, thrips, leatherjackets, and wireworms, and to damage by rabbits and voles; plants in containers may be susceptible to vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds and a virus. See lily diseases for further information