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Bulbs

Lilium longiflorum (IXb/a)

trumpet lily

A bulbous perennial with narrow, glossy dark green leaves and pure white, trumpet-shaped sweetly fragrant flowers up to 17cm long in summer

Other common names

Bermuda lily
November lily
see morewhite trumpet lily
Easter lily

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Liliaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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: Correct
Plant range: Japan to Philippines

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould or well-rotted organic matter in full sun with the base of the plant in shade. In containers or under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost (JI No.2) with added grit and leaf mould in full light with shade from hot sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as ripe in containers in a cold frame. Bulb propagation: detach bulblets from parent bulb as plants become dormant and pot on; remove bulbils from leaf axils before plants die down and pot on; propagate with scales from healthy bulbs

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Cut down flower stems when flowering is completed

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

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