Lilium Bald Eagle - Asiatic Lily

The Lilium 'Bald Eagle' is a Asiatic lily with double flowers in a deep red, almost crimson, that blooms in the heart of summer. Its large, upright, pollen-free flowers hold up well in a vase and won't stain tablecloths or clothes. Very hardy, the plant forms a clump that thickens over the years, requiring little care.

A bulbous plant from the Liliaceae family, the Lilium 'Bald Eagle' is classified in the group of Asiatic hybrids (Division I of the horticultural classification), themselves derived from several species from Central and East Asia. These lilies are renowned for their upright flowers, generally lightly scented but very colourful.
The cultivar 'Bald Eagle' was selected by the Dutch company De Jong Lilies, specialists in double-flowered lilies, and introduced into their catalogue around the turn of the 2020s. Its very upright and sturdy stems reach 80 cm to 1 m in height and bear 4 to 8 buds depending on the bulb size. The foliage, deciduous, consists of lanceolate leaves, of a bright green, arranged along the stem. The flowers, double to semi-double, are 12 to 15 cm wide, upright, formed of narrow, slightly undulate tepals in a cherry red to crimson, shaded with purple towards the centre; they are practically pollen-free, which extends their vase life. Flowering occurs in summer, from July to August. The bulb is very hardy, capable of withstanding frosts of around -20 °C in well-drained soil. Like all lilies, it has a scaly bulb that can remain in place for several years and multiplies slowly by producing small bulbs.
Lilies hold a major place in horticultural history, and their silhouette inspired the famous fleur-de-lis, a symbol of the kings of France and of purity since the Middle Ages.

In the garden, the Bald Eagle lily settles into sunny borders or light partial shade, among perennials and small bushes. Its deep red colour pairs well with light foliage and pastel blooms: it can be combined with the large, airy panicles of Thalictrum rochebrunianum, the delicate white and pink flowers of Gillenia trifoliata or the slender spikes of Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Fascination’. For a more pronounced contrast, consider the purple inflorescences of Sanguisorba ‘Chocolate Tip’ or the baroque flowers of a dahlia ‘Senior’s Hope’. Its stems make excellent cut flowers for composing colourful summer arrangements.