Leopard Lily

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Leopard lily Is a flowering perennial plant belonging to the genus Lilies of the Liliaceae family. In Latin, the name of the flower culture in question is as follows:

Lilium pardalinum … Under natural conditions, the species under consideration prefers mountain slopes, sandy plains, meadows and valleys with a variety of different vegetation. The habitat is California, some European countries, and the species is also common in Asia Minor. The flower culture in question is striking in its variety of shades and is very popular among florists, gardeners and landscape designers around the world.

Characteristics of culture

Leopard lily is represented by an ornamental perennial bulbous plant, which forms a thick, knobby, cylindrical peduncle during growth, which can reach up to 2 meters in height, and bears abundant, long, close-set, smooth foliage, collected in rosettes and having a dark green coloring. In the upper part of the stem, there are from 10 to 30 large inflorescences, each individual flower can reach about 15 centimeters in diameter.

The inflorescences have the most delicate aroma, a very remarkable appearance and colorful color. The color of the petals, strongly bent outward, can cover the entire palette of orange and yellow tones. A special individuality to the color of the plant is given by bright red or brown spots, each of which is surrounded by a light halo, which emphasizes the similarity of the color of the presented flower culture and a wild animal from the Jungle.

A pale pink stigma and large red-orange anthers in the middle of the inflorescence are collected in a filamentous bundle. The fruit is presented in the form of a dark green tricuspid box filled with brown triangular seeds. The bulbs of the represented plant species have an ovoid or conical shape, no more than seven centimeters in diameter, which completely cover numerous hard scales of yellow or beige color. The flowering period of the presented flower culture can be observed from the second decade of July to August, after which the plant enters the stage of abundant fruiting, this is the best time to collect seeds.

Growing conditions

Before planting the bulbs, it is necessary to find a comfortable place for the growth of this flower culture. A bed with lilies should be sheltered from gusty winds, and be in a well-lit area, since lilies are sun-loving plants, in shading the plant practically does not bloom and may soon die.

Planting or transplanting leopard lily is carried out in late August - early September. It is advisable to prepare the soil in advance, since it must be carefully dug up, well-drained and abundantly fertilized with useful substances. Heavy clay soil must be diluted with sand, and sandy soil with peat. Lilies, like many bulbous plants, cannot tolerate high acidity, so make sure the soil is pH neutral. From organic fertilizers, it is advisable to use only rotted compost or humus. Fresh manure and bird droppings must be excluded, they attract harmful insects, and, moreover, the bulbs of the plant do not like it very much.

In order for the culture to please with abundant and colorful flowering, it is important to create all the necessary conditions for it, that is, to ensure regular watering, especially during the opening of the inflorescences, periodic loosening for air and moisture to the roots and organic feeding, at least three times a year.