Lilium candidum
Lilium candidum
Madonna lily is one of the oldest cultivated flowers, grown for millennia for its pure white trumpet flowers and sweet fragrance. Unlike most lilies, bulbs must be planted shallowly with the top just below the soil surface. Evergreen basal rosette of leaves appears in autumn. A classic cottage garden plant.
Where to plant
Best aspect
Border position
When to plant and expect flowers
Plant
Flowers
How to grow lilium candidum
Plant bulbs in August just 2-3cm below the surface — NOT deeply like other lilies. Produces a rosette of overwintering leaves in autumn. Needs alkaline well-drained soil and full sun. Plant against a warm wall for best results. An ancient garden plant with centuries of cultivation in Britain.
Soil requirements
Soil type
loam, sand
Moisture
well drained
pH
neutral, alkaline
Aftercare
Allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering. Remove spent flower heads to prevent self-seeding.
Propagation
- Scales
- Bulbils
- Offsets
- Seed
Wildlife value
Toxicity
Highly toxic to cats — even small amounts can cause fatal kidney failure. Mildly toxic to dogs and humans.
Common problems
- Lily beetle
- Slugs on young shoots
- Botrytis (grey mould)
- Vine weevil in containers
Similar bulbs to grow
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