Lilium (x) longiflorum 'Forehand' Butterfly Angel® - Easter Lily

The Lilium 'Forehand' 'Butterfly Angel' is a hybrid variety of Asian lily and Lilium longiflorum characterized by large double flowers in a vibrant orange. The plant, of beautiful stature, blooms in summer on a long, sturdy stem that will bear several upward-facing flowers. It is a remarkable cut flower, more long-lasting than classic Asian lilies, and its color does not fade in the sun.

The 'Forehand' Lily is a Dutch horticultural creation dating back to 2023. It is a bulbous plant with deciduous vegetation from the lily family. It belongs to a group of hybrids derived from Asian species such as Lilium longiflorum and L. formosanum, both slightly frost-sensitive. These prized varieties in floristry are known to be somewhat susceptible to viruses and severe frosts. At full bloom, 'Forehand' can reach up to 1.50 m in height, and its vegetation will spread over time, with bulbs producing bulblets through vegetative multiplication. Each floral stem bears 5 to 7 orange flowers measuring approximately 15 cm in diameter, facing upwards. They feature 6 large petals surrounding a cluster of small petals. At the heart of each flower are orange stamens with mahogany anthers, without pollen. The long, glossy, dark green leaves are narrow and lanceolate, with parallel veins running through them. The vegetation dries up in autumn, while the bulb goes into dormancy. The bulbs are reserve organs with fleshy, overlapping scales.

Hybrid longiflorum lilies like 'Butterfly Angel' bloom after 10 or 11 weeks of cultivation; they can be "forced" by planting them early in the season in a veranda or a warm room. The soil should remain moist throughout the growth and flowering period. In the garden, you can associate 'Forehand' with non-invasive perennial plants such as delphiniums or small bushes like bushy potentillas in matching colours, or even with border roses like ' Amber Sun' or 'Mother's Day Orange'. Winter protection in the form of a thick mulch is not unnecessary in very cold regions. Lilies appreciate being shaded at the base, and these will help prevent the stems from bending in the wind.