Martagon Lilies

The best known of the European natives, Lilium martagon and its variants have the greatest range of all the species or wild lilies. Preferring calcareous soils, (sweet) Lilium martagon can find a home in every garden provided some lime is added yearly to the soil. Not liking to be disturbed, it will often refuse to send up a stem the first season after being moved. The Turk's Cap flowers are small, but as many as 50 or more can appear on the 4 foot stem of a mature, settled bulb. Carrying a light "wild flower" scent, they do well in shade as well as full sun, of which the latter tends to keep stems from reaching their full potential.

L. martagon and its hybrids along with their close cousins L. hansonii and L. tsingtauense are the swallowtail butterfly favorites on our farm. Both the Western Tiger (Papilio rutulus) as well as the Pale Tiger (Papilio eurmedon) relish bloom time every summer.

Martagon species, as well as their hybrids, resent being moved and fall is their best time for planting for success. Actually, the optimal time for moving a martagon is while it is in full bloom. While the jobber companies (those that just buy and resell) are not aware of this being they are not growers, we are. Spring planted martagons have a high failure rate and more often than not, fail to bloom their first season. It is for that reason, we at B & D Lilies only ship these magnificent lilies in the fall giving you the absolute best chances for success.