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A flower fantasy in summer garden

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JUL 10, 2019

The amazing lily tree blooms each summer, each time a little taller. (Photos: Debbie Arrington)

Gigantic lily tree lives up to its mail order billing

It takes an incredible beauty to upstage Marilyn Monroe. But right now, that’s what’s happening in my front yard.

“Marilyn” is a hybrid tea that once won Queen of Show at the Sacramento Rose Show. She looks her best in spring and fall.

The lily tree reaches the roof line at 8 feet.

Towering over that large, lush rose bush right now is a midsummer spectacular: A lily tree.

It’s no tree but a lily with stems as thick as my arm and loaded with fragrant trumpets that dangle over my head. Each trumpet is 6 inches long (at least) and as big across. Standing 8 feet tall, the lily tree is a true scene stealer.

This is one of those rare plants that lived up to its mail order billing. Now in its second decade, this amazing lily sprouts reliably every May. It then grows and grows and grows, each year seemingly a little taller. By July Fourth, it reaches the roof line.

Many tulips ago, this lily tree was purchased as a bare bulb from Breck’s , the Dutch mail order giant. Founded in 1818, Breck’s is now celebrating its 201st year in the bulb business.

I admit I bought the lily tree on impulse. I couldn’t resist this description:

“A floral fantasy come true! … Our magical Lily Trees are the breathtaking result from years of selective breeding. They offer you all the advantages of the finest hybrid lilies — massive, upward-facing trumpets of vivid color, delicate fragrance and exceptional reliability. Every plant bears four to five flowers the very first year and 20 to 30 after three years!

“All this on incredibly sturdy stems that reach up 3 to 4 feet the first year, 5 to 6 feet the next year and upwards to 6 to 8 feet in three years!”

I had to see that!

Also marketed as Orienpet lilies, lily trees are a cross between oriental and trumpet varieties. I picked a three-bulb special of unnamed varieties and planted them among the roses and perennials. Two lily trees grew for several seasons before disappearing, crowded out by other plants.

But this one giant has become more eye-popping every year. It’s never been dug up, and rarely fed. It just wakes up in late spring to put on its show. The blooms start pale yellow and fade to creamy white as they open. (It’s similar to Breck’s current Pretty Woman variety.) In my flower bed, it’s my summer star.

Some like it hot.

The trumpet flowers are 6 inches long and as big across.

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Keywords:

Sacramento lily tree Marilyn Monroe rose bulbs. summer bulbs lily Pretty Woman July Breck's

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Garden Checklist for week of April 21

This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.

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