The colorful world of gardening: types and varieties of lilies with descriptions and photos

Botanical portrait of a garden flower

Lily belongs to bulbous crops. The bulb is a small stem with many scales. Over time, in place of old scales, which are modified leaves, new ones appear. The main function of this part of the plant is the accumulation of nutrients. The size of the scales depends on the varietal variety: some are the size of a grain, others reach 10 cm in diameter. The number of scales also fluctuates - 80–120 pcs.

According to their structure, bulbs are divided into several types:

• stolon;
• false columnar;
• concentric;
• rhizome.

The color is often white, yellow or purple.

Roots grow from the base of the bulb, which nourish and fix the plant in the soil. Some types of lilies are characterized by supra-luminal or stem roots. They are formed from the stem and also act as a retainer.

The stem of the plant is usually smooth, reaching a length of 15 cm to 3 m. The stems are densely covered with leaves. Their shape and size depend on the cultivar. Leaves are usually linear with many veins. The width is 3–7 cm, and the length is 3–22 cm. Towards the bottom, the leaves become larger and denser.

The main specific characteristic of a lily is its flowers. Their size ranges from 2–30 cm. Flowers are localized at the top of the stem. Their number varies from 5 to 40 pieces. Inflorescences are classified into:

• paniculate;
• racemose;
• umbrella;
• corymbose.

In shape, flowers are:

• flat;
• bell-shaped;
• star-shaped;
• cupped;
• tubular;
• turban;
• funnel-shaped.

Through breeding, hybrid varieties have been bred that combine several flower forms.

The color of the flowers is varied, which is why the lily is so highly valued by flower growers. The palette has about 20 shades and halftones, and the color range of hybrids is even greater.

The aroma of most flowers is light and pleasant, the rest have a pungent odor. However, there are also those that do not have a smell (for example, Asian).

Video "Planting and caring for lilies"

In this video, you will learn how to properly plant and care for lilies in the garden.

International classification

There are more than 10 thousand varieties of lilies. They differ in appearance, care requirements. That is why in 1964 the international classification of these flowers was approved, formulated by the florist Jan de Graaf. According to this classification, representatives of the Liliaceae are divided into groups:

• tubular and Orleans;
• Asian;
• curly;
• long-flowered;
• oriental;
• snow-white;
• American;
• interspecific hybrids;
• varieties growing in the wild.

Asian hybrids

The largest group, which includes about 5 thousand varieties. In height, Asian lilies can reach from 50 cm to 2 m. The plant is quite resistant, easily tolerates cold, resists insect pests and fungal diseases, and is unpretentious in care.

Lion Heart

The flowers are very bright, combining black and purple hues with yellow tips. They reach 20 cm in diameter. The lion's heart grows up to 80 cm in height. The plant blooms in the middle of summer.

Marlene

Flowers with a diameter of 15 cm have a rather interesting color: from white to deep pink. Marlene is characterized by many flowers; the stem can have up to 100 flower cups.

Lollipop

On the stem, as a rule, 5 cupped flowers are formed. The color is white-raspberry with brown splashes. The smell is neutral.

Tribal Dance

This hybrid grows up to 120 cm. The flowers have a unique color - yellow-orange with bright purple blotches. The flowering period falls in the middle or late summer.

Terry varieties

Created on the basis of Asian hybrids, in terms of care and frost resistance, they are very similar to them. They take root in almost any region of Russia.

Aphrodite

The diameter of pale pink flowers reaches 10 cm.The height of the stems is about 130 cm, and the width of the overgrown shrub is 50 cm.

Aaron

On a high, about 85 cm, stem, several large flowers with double tips flaunt. The color is snow-white, the flowering period is June-July.

Sphinx

The color of the inflorescences is fiery red, the size is quite large - up to 20 cm in diameter.

Fata Morgana

The growth of the culture is average - up to a meter. The flowers are rich yellow, unusually bright. The flowering period is the end of July - August.

Double Sense

The flowers have an average diameter and a double shade - yellowish-crimson. The lily blooms in July.

Elodie

Low-growing culture, about half a meter in height. The flowers are pale pink, terry at the tips. The inflorescences are dense.

Mystery Dream

This plant becomes terry in the second year after planting. The flowers are unusual in their shape, reminiscent of cabbage. They have a light green tint.

Black lilies

They are called black conditionally. In fact, the color of the inflorescences varies from dark purple to maroon.

Landini

It is rightfully considered the darkest variety of lilies. The color is close to dark gray with a shade of burgundy.

Mapira

Blooms in any of the summer months. The stem reaches 1.5 m in height. The color is also close to black.

Nightrider

It belongs to the group of AT-hybrids, as it is a cross between the pipe lily and the Asiatic lily.

Black out

The lightest of this category. It has a red color with dark blotches.

Lilies are undersized

The height of most of these flowers does not exceed half a meter. Flowering lasts no more than a couple of weeks, but the growing season is fairly quick. Low-growing varieties include Bazzer, Curitiba, Spider, Ivory Pixie.

Curly varieties

Quite unpretentious. The main requirements for care are considered to be rare transplantation (once every 10 years) and maintenance in partial shade. Direct rays of the sun will destroy the delicate plant.

The turbid flowers grow up to 5 cm in diameter and are characterized by a subtle aroma.

Common varieties are Claude Shride, Arabian Night, Russian Morning, Sunny Morning.

Snow white hybrids

Another name is European, which is due to the homeland of growth. Delicate plants prone to pests and diseases. Requires proper care. The stems grow up to 2 m in height and have several fragrant flowers at the tops.

The most popular varieties are Testcium and Apollo.

American hybrids

They are not very common on the territory of Russia. The flowers are large, bell-shaped. They require careful maintenance and insulation for the winter. Popular varieties: Afterglow, Shaksan, Cherry Forest.

Long-flowered lilies

Created on the basis of tropical counterparts. In Russia, they are grown exclusively in greenhouses. The flowers are elongated and have a pleasant scent. Such varieties as White Heaven, White Elegance are widespread.

Tubular and Orleans views

The species is quite persistent, well resistant to pests and diseases. Unpretentious care. The flowers have the most persistent and brightest aroma of all types. The group has about a thousand varieties. The most famous are African Queen, Pink Perfection, Golden Splendor.

Oriental hybrids

They are considered the most beautiful flowers among Liliaceae. They bloom in late summer - early autumn. The flowers are huge, reaching 40 cm in diameter. A characteristic feature of these plants is considered to be a border along the edge of the flowers or a dark strip in the center. Popular varieties: Magni Kors, Mona Lisa, Entertainer.

Interspecific hybrids

They are distinguished by resistance to cold, therefore they are actively grown even in northern latitudes. The most common varieties of interspecific lilies: Double Whiskey, Glow, Algarve, Coral Fashion.

LA hybrids

These plants can hibernate in open soil, and they tolerate cold well. Also LA hybrids are resistant to various insect pests and fungal infections. The category is characterized by a wide palette of inflorescence shades and a fast ripening rate. Notable varieties: Bestseller, Samur, Indian Diamond, Keb Dazzle.

OT hybrids

The variety is bred by crossing an oriental lily and a pipe lily. These crops are considered the largest. The height of the stem of such a lily can reach 3 m. The most common varieties of OT hybrids: Anastasia, Donato, Haneimun, Double Yellow, Purple Prince.

Wild species of lilies

Wild varieties are also called species. They are bred by nature itself, so it is rather difficult to adapt them to growth in the garden. But experienced florists know what conditions surround a wild lily in nature, therefore they create the same in their summer cottage.

About a hundred wild varieties are known, of which only 15 can be grown on the territory of Russia.

In appearance, wild-growing lilies are not inferior to cultural ones. Wild lilies grow mainly in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate type of climate. Among the popular varieties: Daurskaya, Henry, Leopardovaya, Wonderful, White, Golden, Royal, Saranka, Candidum, Tsarstvennaya.

Tiger varieties

Another name for the tiger lily is lanceolate. The flowers are turbid in shape and have a bright orange color. Inflorescences are characterized by the presence of dark spots. On the stem, as a rule, about 10–25 buds are formed. The species is unpretentious and easily tolerates frosts, hibernating in the open field.

The most popular varieties of tiger lilies are: Flore Pleno, Fluffy Leopard, Citronella.

Bulbous varieties

Bulbiferous or bulbous plants have a color similar to tiger species, characterized by the presence of spots. However, the shape of the flowers of this species differs from the previous one - it is tubular. The name of the culture is associated with the peculiarity of the flower to form airy bulbs in the axils of the leaves - bulbs. Thanks to this, the plant reproduces quite easily. Popular varieties: Epic, Virineya.

It is noteworthy that some varieties of Asiatic and tiger lilies are characterized by the presence of peculiar bulbs.

Blue lilies

Unfortunately, to date, the blue lily species has not yet been bred.And numerous photos with the image of such flowers are nothing more than a picture well edited in a graphic editor. However, breeders from Japan predict the development of such a flower by 2020. In any case, the appearance of a blue lily will become a real sensation, which every florist will know about.

The variety of colors, sizes and aromas makes the lily almost the most popular and desirable plant in the garden. Many vegetation lovers even adapt the culture to indoor living conditions. However, everyone who has dealt with the brightest representative of the Lilina family knows that beauty during flowering must be paid for with proper care.