Lilium Bacardi - Lily

The  'Bacardi' lily belongs to the oriental lily group. It blooms from late July or early August, with wide-open flowers with wavy and curving petals, from large coloured buds, erect like candlesticks. They a dazzling cherry red colour, with a satin-like sheen, and a bright star-shaped centre tinted with yellow and chartreuse. This robust oriental lily is also very fragrant and faithfully blooms in well-drained soil without limestone in a flower bed, in a pot, or even in a large rockery.

The genus Lillium belongs to the lily family, its representatives are bulb whose deciduous vegetation disappears in winter. In spring, leafy stems emerge from the ground and form a narrow and vertical clump. 'Bacardi' is a horticultural hybrid obtained by cross-breeding various species native to the Far East. This plant reaches approximately 1m to 1.20m high when in bloom, and the clump spreads indefinitely over time, with the bulbs producing bulblets through vegetative multiplication. In August, umbels of flowers appear, facing outwards and well-displayed. They are trumpet-shaped and very wide, measuring up to 25cm in diameter, and pleasantly fragrant. These imposing corollas are cherry red or maraschino red with a satin-like sheen and a yellow/chartreuse star-shaped centre. The stamens bear orange to cinnamon-coloured pollen when ripe, completing the harmony of colours. The sturdy stems are covered with alternate, dark green, shiny, lanceolate leaves.

Oriental lilies are slightly more difficult to grow successfully than Asian lilies if the conditions are not met. They require well-drained soil, rich in humus. Any soil that retains moisture in winter is harmful to the bulbs. They do not like limestone soils, and the colours are more intense in acidic soil. Exposure to partial shade, particularly in the afternoon, helps prolong the duration and preserve the brightness of the flowers. For a harmonious flower bed, associate Lilium 'Bacardi' with lilies in shades of pink or purple, gladioli, or daylilies. Incorporating grasses and perennial plants around the lily is good for shading the soil and stabilising the stems against wind and rain. It can also be grown on the edge of a grove, surrounded by small bushes such as rhododendrons or azaleas. This lily is also perfect for cut flowers.