Flowers · Bulbs
Regal lily
Lilium regale
A scented July lily with white trumpets, a yellow throat and a pink reverse. The stems need staking in exposed gardens, and the base prefers shade from neighbouring leaves.
Growing conditions
Soilloam, sand, chalk
Moisturewell-drained
pHneutral, alkaline
Position
SunFull sun, Partial sun
Aspecteast, south, west
Exposuresheltered
HardinessH5
Size
Time to maturityFlowers in the first or second summer
Max height0.9–1.2 m
Max spread0.2–0.3 m
In the garden
Plant bulbs in autumn or early spring, 15 cm deep, with grit if the soil is heavy. A late frost can nip the shoot tips, so a sheltered spot is safer.
Lily beetle must be picked off by hand. Slugs take the emerging shoots.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | — | — |
| Summer | Leaves | white, pink reverse | Scented |
| Autumn | — | — | — |
| Winter | — | — | — |
- JanDormant
- FebDormant
- MarDormant
- AprFoliage
- MayFoliage
- JunFoliage
- Julwhite, pink reverse
- AugFoliage
- SepDormant
- OctDormant
- NovDormant
- DecDormant
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
25 October
Plant bulbs
Plant regal lilies 15 cm deep. Put a cane in at planting so you do not spear the bulb later.
20 April
Watch for beetle
From spring, check leaves for red lily beetles and their dark grubs.
20 July
Stake and deadhead
Tie stems before the trumpets open, and remove faded flowers.