Lilium martagon
Lilium martagon
Martagon lily produces elegant candelabras of pendant turk's cap flowers with recurved petals spotted with dark maroon. Unusually tolerant of shade for a lily. Up to 50 flowers on an established plant. Long-lived and reliable in UK woodland gardens. Available in pink, white, and dark maroon forms.
Where to plant
Best aspect
Border position
When to plant and expect flowers
Plant
Flowers
How to grow lilium martagon
Plant 15cm deep in autumn. One of the few lilies that thrives in shade. Excellent in woodland gardens and among shrubs. Can take a year to settle in before flowering. Very long-lived — clumps improve for decades. Add leaf mould to planting holes.
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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