Lilium Longwood

Lilium longiflorum 'Longwood' is a variety of Asian lily and Lilium longiflorum hybrid which is characterised by its vigour and its magnificent orange colour sprinkled with mahogany red. The plant blooms in late June, on a long, sturdy stem that will bear several large, upward-facing flowers. This variety seems less sensitive to cold than other hybrids in its group. It is an excellent cut flower, more durable than classic Asian lilies and its colour does not fade in the sun.

The 'Longwood' Lily is a horticultural creation. It is a bulbous plant with deciduous vegetation from the lily family. It is part of a group of hybrids derived from Asian species such as Lilium longiflorum and L. formosanum, both slightly frost-sensitive. These popular floristry varieties are known to be somewhat susceptible to viruses and severe frosts. In full bloom, 'Longwood' will reach between 80 and 1.10 m high, and its vegetation will spread over time, with the bulbs producing numerous bulblets through vegetative multiplication. Each floral stem bears 5 to 7 orange flowers measuring approximately 15 cm in diameter, facing towards the sky. They have a "sprinkled" pattern as if the burnt orange throat of the flower had been dusted with mahogany. At the centre of each flower, there are yellow stamens with mahogany anthers. The long, glossy, dark green leaves, are narrow and lance-shaped with parallel veins. The vegetation dries up in autumn, while the bulb enters a dormant state. The bulbs are reserve organs with fleshy, overlapping scales.

Hybrid longiflorum lilies such as 'Longwood' bloom after 12 or 13 weeks of cultivation, and it is possible to "force" them by planting them early in the season in a veranda or a warm room. The soil they are planted in should remain moist throughout the growth and flowering period. In the garden, you can associate 'Longwood' with non-invasive perennial plants (lupins, delphiniums) or low-maintenance shrubs such as Caryopteris 'Sterling Silver', bushy potentillas in assorted colours, and even with small ground cover roses. Winter protection, in the form of a thick mulch, may be necessary in very cold regions. Lilies appreciate having their feet in the shade, and companion plants will help prevent the stems from bending under the effect of the wind. The 'Longwood' lily will be superb in a flower bed, in a pot, and of course as a cut flower.