Lilium martagon Arabian Night - Martagon Lily

The 'Arabian Night' Martagon Lily hybrid is a fascinating and fragrant variety. Each bulb forms a spectacular flower stem, which can bear up to 50 small flowers with curled, gold and mahogany petals. It is a reasonable size so it can be grown in the garden or a pot, where you can get a closer look at its amazing flowers. Although it takes a little time to establish, it will faithfully bloom every year thereafter.

Lilium martagon 'Arabian Night' belongs to the Lily family. It is a deciduous bulbous plant forming a narrow and vertical clump from spring onwards. This variety will reach between 80 cm (32in) and 1 m (3ft) high when in bloom. Its growth will spread without a theoretical limit over time, as the bulbs produce bulbils through vegetative multiplication. Its generous and fragrant flowering takes place in June-July. Each flower stem carries numerous 5 cm (2in) diameter flowers, in clusters of 3 to 8, which hang down towards the ground. Their thick and slightly glossy-textured petals curl up when ripe. The base colour is a golden yellow to orange, heavily marked and speckled with mahogany red which pairs perfectly with the prominent orange stamens. The flowers' scent attracts a large number of pollinating insects. The leaves of this lily are dark green and lanceolate in shape. This hybrid is a very long-lived plant that will naturalise over time. The vegetation completely dries out in winter.

You can combine this Arabian Night Lily with perennial plants in your garden, as lilies appreciate having shade at their base. You can also grow it in a pot to bring it closer to your terrace or window borders, so you can fully enjoy the exceptional flowers. The warm colours of this Martagon Lily harmonise well with whites and the entire range of yellow to red or purple tones. To play with colour contrast, you could pair it with the blue flowers of sages or catnips.