The Graceful Martagons

The specific term Martagon is a Turkish word which also means turban or cap. The name Turk's cap lily, which also applies to a number of other species, comes from the characteristic reflexed shape of the petals on their flowers. The Lilium martagon is a species of lily.  It has a widespread native region extending from eastern France east through northern Asia to Mongolia and Korea.

L. hansonii Lilium

Martagons have been cultivated for centuries. John Gerard, author of the famous Elizabethan “Herbal,” mentions them in his 1596 list of plants growing in his garden.  In Uppsala, Sweden, martagons bloom under ancient trees in the garden of 18th century naturalist Carl Linnaeus, a famous botanist that devised the system we still use today for naming living things.

Lilium martagon was used in hybridizing with L. hansonii at the end of the 19th century by Mrs. RO Backhouse of Hereford, England. Their glossy foliage rise in whorls along sturdy stems and add a distinctive shape to the garden while you wait for the flowers. One stem may carry dozens of downward facing “Turk’s Cap” type flowers.  They self-seed and, unlike many lilies that fade away after a few years, martagons can outlive the gardener who plants them.

Martagons do not have the large showy blooms like Trumpets, Aurelian’s, and Oriental hybrids, nor their intense scent. Some people even claim that martagons have an unpleasant scent; they have a light ‘wild flower’ scent.  I have noticed that they have a subtle sophistication that their dramatic relatives lack.  A slight breeze will start them dancing rather than falling over. They also have the advantage of fitting into the larger garden design, unlike the big, flashy hybrids which demand to be noticed.

'Terrace City' Martagon,
photo provided by Chuck Robinson

Horticulturally the species martagon is part of the Division 9 classification, but the hybrids and cultivars derived from these species are part of Division 2 - Martagon Hybrids classification.  They have stem-rooting and they are 4 to 5 feet tall. They also have a wide range of flower colors; pinks, mauves, scarlet and wine reds as well as white, yellow and orange.  The flowers are usually lightly scented, and numerous flowers are borne on each plant...between 40 to 60 flowers can be found on vigorous plants.

Martagon lilies are very cold hardy and flourish as far north as the Arctic Circle!  These rare forgotten jewels are under-used and may be hard to find, but our friends at B&D Lilies have a nice selection of Martagon Species as well as their hybrids.
In the St Louis region there can be many challenges when growing Martagon’s.  Due to our hot and humid summer weather you will probably need to grow them under dappled shade conditions.  They also like soil that is amended with lime every year.

Chuck Robinson, our Lily friend from Kansas City, who provided the gorgeous photograph of 'Terrace City' above and the other photographs below, shares some of his experience with Martagons in the Midwest; "I have had them for a few years. I am still learning. They require good drainage and strategic watering, which means while they are active. Of course, it is easy to water them when you are anticipating the flowers and while they are in flower. Diligence is required to keep them well watered after the flowers have gone. On the flip side, if your garden is well irrigated, that can be a problem too."

'Claude Shride' Martagon

An Orange blooming Martagon

A White blooming Martagon

'Pink Taurade' Martagon

What are your experiences with Martagon Lilies?  

Are you willing to try something new in your garden that has been grown for centuries?

True Lilies vs Daylilies

During February of 2012 members of the Mid America Regional Lily Society had the opportunity to enter an Educational Display at the St. Louis Builders Home & Garden Show.  This show is one of the largest quality consumer home shows in North America. More than 500 exhibitors and 1,800 booths filled the America's Center and Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis.  It's been in existence for more than 30 years and is the place for consumers to see, compare and buy everything they need for their homes and gardens.

The annual flower show at this event is sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc. which is recognized as the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world.  Our educational display received a blue ribbon and remained on display throughout the St. Louis Builders Home & Garden Show.

The big question is "What is a Lily?"  Since daylilies are very popular in our gardens, we thought it would be a good theme for our educational display to compare "True Lilies vs Daylilies".  We hope that the following chart, from our educational display, can offer some assistance with this dilemma.

LILIUM ONE STEM LEAVES ALL THE WAY UP STEM FLOWERS BLOOM FOR MANY DAYS MANY ARE FRAGRANT ONE FOOT TO  SEVEN FEET TALL

HEMEROCALLIS CAN HAVE MULTIPLE STEMS LEAVES AT BASE OF PLANT FLOWER BLOOMS  FOR ONE DAY SELDOM FRAGRANT ONE FOOT TO FOUR FEET TALL

Annual Spring Lilium Bulb Sale

The annual Mid America Regional Lily Society spring bulb sale is next weekend!   This is chance to add some gorgeous lilies to your garden for some large accent blooms this summer.  Liliums are easy to grow, and will return blooms each year, if planted and cared for properly.  Make sure you plant them in well-drained soil that is not remaining overly wet.  They also like cool feet and warm heads, so mulch the base of the plant and plant it somewhere that receives at least 4-6 hours of sun each day.  You should also promptly plant your lily bulbs.  These are LIVE bulbs that need to be planted as soon as possible.  Cover the bulbs with 3-4 inches of soil for smaller bulbs and 4-6 inches for larger bulbs.  One last tip…as soon as the bulbs are planted WATER THEM!

We have a wonderful selection of up-facing, down-facing and side-facing Asiatic Lilium with lots of vibrant colors.  Don’t miss out on the ‘Royal Sunset’ LA Hybrid…this is a MUST for your garden!  The blooms are very colorful, and look just like the picture on the MARLS web site.  If you don’t have a lot of space then the Pot–Borders do great in pots and add some extra color to your patio.  Another MUST, for that extraordinary lilium fragrance, try the Oriental or Species bulbs we have available.  You will be rewarded with that wonderful lily floral fragrance.  Last…but certainly not least…don’t forget the large OT Hybrid or Trumpets.  Whether you have a small or large garden these tall Liliums can certainly add both fragrance and extraordinary accent to your garden.

Take a look at our selection of bulbs on our Bulb Sale Selection pages, and join us on Saturday and Sunday, April 21st – 22nd at the Missouri Botanical Garden, to select some Liliums for your garden.  We will have ‘Starter’ bulb bags available for those who just need a few bulbs to get started. Hope we see you there!

Book Review - "Heirloom Bulbs for Today"

Chris Wiesinger, “The Bulb Hunter” has teamed-up with landscape designer and award winning author Cherie Foster Colburn to produce an innovative view of Heirloom Bulbs.  Most garden books and magazines tell you about the culture of plants, but this book takes it a step further to reveal not only the bulb’s past, but the people who grew and nurtured it.

I also found wonderful botanical illustrations by South African artists Loela Barry & Johan Kritzinger and loads of photographs to depict the cultivars and the Historic places they can be found.  The Historic homes, gardens, and cemeteries highlighted throughout the book really takes the reader on a bulb hunt across the Southern region of the U.S.

To my surprise, at the very end of the book, Cherie and Loela have designed a sample garden layout that features the bulbs referenced throughout the book.  They have also included perennial companion plants for their low-maintenance garden.  Loela’s illustrations of their sample garden depict its progress thru the seasons of the year.

I really enjoyed reading this book and will use it as a future reference for Heirloom Bulbs. To read and learn more about heirloom bulbs and how Chris has rescued bulbs to put them back into America's gardens, please visit The Southern Bulb Company website.

--By Lynn Slackman

Tribute to Linda Smith from MARLS

In Memory of Linda K. Smith
1944-2011

What a splendid wife, mother, and grandmother. She and husband, Ray, were real “Teammates”! They shared their love of family, friends, and the community. Most especially with their children and grandchildren. Oh…and did I mention LILIES? (Most certainly!)

Linda was a prize student of horticulture at East Central College. From these studies, she became a teacher. Once more a rich fulfillment was to be realized.

All along the way, Linda was most proficient in her growing of award-winning lilies. Out of this love she became a judge and president of the Mid America Regional Lily Society. In time, she was elected to the NALS Board…later to its presidency.

With her term completed, she accepted Chair of the Judges Accreditation Committee. Husband Ray always at her side, assuring his support!

Though failing in health, she kept up her valiant spirit. Touching many lives, Linda made this truly a better world. Sadly gone from our midst now….our memories remain. How warm and comforting they will always be.

Linda Smith…so fondly remembered.
---Fred Winterowd

Tribute to Harold Schrei from MARLS

The Mid America Regional Lily Society extends our deepest sympathy to the family of Harold (Hal) Schrei. Hal passed away on August 11th, 2010 at the age of 94 years old. Hal leaves his wife Dorothy and two sons Bob and Dick.

Hal and his wife Dorothy were very valuable members of the Mid America Regional Lily Society. Some of Hal’s supportive work is listed below;

Charter member of MARLS,
First Treasurer of MARLS,
Past president of MARLS,
MARLS Board Member,
NALS Board Member,
Official photographer for MARLS,
Lily Show Chairman,
NALS Accredited Judge

Hal entered many prize lilies in our shows, and was a consistent winner. He has opened their garden for tours and presented slide shows to many garden clubs and other interested groups. He made all aware of the ease of growing lilies and incorporating them into the garden. Hal’s wife Dorothy was the MARLS treasurer for eight years and handled the extra duties involved with the MARLS sponsored NALS shows in St Louis.

MARLS members will remember Hal as a very reliable MARLS supporter who was very dependable, very organized and very much a leader.