Lilium Purple Prince - Oriental Lily

The Lilium Purple Prince is a plant for humus-rich soil; it does not appreciate calcareous and poorly drained soils: its bulb fears excess moisture in winter and summer drought. It is best planted in October or spring, burying the bulbs 15 cm deep in a pocket of soil mixed with leaf mould. It will tend to stretch considerably if planted in too shady a location. To keep stems sturdy, choose an open area with a sunny but not scorching exposure. Surround the bulbs with a pocket of sand to prevent rot and slug attacks while allowing them to enlarge more easily. Mark the planting location, as growth only starts in March-April. Protect the young shoots from frost in case of severe cold. If red insects appear, treat without delay; these are lily beetles whose larvae can devour all the leaves. The most effective method is to catch them manually; be careful, they drop off as soon as they are touched, so place a box underneath. The bulbs of this lily multiply quickly and allow the clump to be divided every 3 or 4 years. If one prefers not to divide the clumps after four years, the tight cluster of bulbs will produce numerous stems, shorter, with fewer flowers per stem; the plant will then resemble a bushy bush, which is also very aesthetic. To obtain 2 m stems with 30 to 40 buds each, it is imperative to divide the bulbs.

On the terrace, you can create sumptuous pot displays with lilies. Choose a container wide and deep enough (at least 16 cm in diameter for 1 bulb). Fill it with a mixture of leaf mould and sand. Plant the lilies in groups of 3 to 5 bulbs, 10-15 cm apart, then water abundantly. Place the pots in a cool room, or outdoors once the frosts have passed. The ambient temperature should be around 12°C. When the shoots appear, place the pot in a conservatory or a very bright room, at a temperature of about 18°C. Apply liquid fertiliser twice a month until the flower buds appear.