Madonna lily

Sun

Full sun; light afternoon shade is useful in hot climates.

Water

Water during autumn-to-spring growth and flowering when the soil becomes dry. Reduce watering during summer dormancy; avoid waterlogged soil in any season.

Soil

Well-drained, moderately fertile soil, preferably neutral to alkaline. Improve heavy soil or plant in a raised bed rather than leaving bulbs in wet clay.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Early to midsummer; fragrant white trumpets with yellow anthers.

Foliage

Broad, glossy green leaves form a low autumn and winter rosette; narrower leaves grow along the flowering stem. Foliage dies back during the summer resting period.

Growth

Moderate; bulbs gradually form clumps where conditions suit them.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.2 m)

   full size

About 1 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in late summer or early autumn, with the bulb tip only about 1 in (2.5 cm) below the soil surface.
• Water during active growth if rainfall is insufficient, but keep dormant bulbs relatively dry.
• Apply a light dressing of balanced fertiliser as spring growth starts; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Keep thick mulch and neighbouring foliage away from the winter rosette.
• Stake tall stems early in exposed gardens, tying loosely to avoid damage.
• Leave established clumps undisturbed unless crowded; divide during summer dormancy and replant promptly.

Pruning. Remove faded flowers before seed pods develop, leaving the stem and leaves to feed the bulb. Cut the old flowering stem to ground level only after it has yellowed and dried, without damaging the new basal rosette.

Spring

Apply a light balanced feed and check emerging stems for slugs and lily beetles.

Late spring

Stake stems where needed and water during dry spells.

Early summer

Remove faded flowers and inspect leaves for spotting or grey mould.

Midsummer

Allow foliage to yellow naturally, then remove dead stems and reduce watering.

Late summer

Plant new bulbs shallowly; divide crowded clumps only if necessary.

Autumn

Keep the new leafy rosettes clear of fallen leaves and water if conditions are dry.

Winter

Check drainage and keep wet mulch away from the rosettes.

• Plant in small groups through a sunny cottage border for upright flowers above lower perennials.
• Use in a white garden with white roses and silver-leaved plants, leaving the basal rosettes uncrowded.
• Place near a path or seating area where the summer fragrance can be enjoyed.
• Combine with lavender or catmint in a well-drained Mediterranean-style border.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Traditional, White garden, Mediterranean, Romantic rose garden and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Lavender, Catmint, Roses, Hardy geraniums and Yarrow.

Wildlife: Flowers offer pollen and nectar to visiting insects. Leaves may feed lily beetles where those pests occur.

• Lily beetles: where present, inspect leaf undersides regularly, remove adults and larvae, and crush egg clusters.
• Botrytis leaf blight: brown spotting and dying foliage are encouraged by damp, crowded conditions; improve airflow, avoid overhead watering and remove infected debris.
• Bulb or basal rot: bulbs decline in poorly drained soil; discard rotten bulbs and improve drainage before replanting.
• Slugs and snails: protect autumn rosettes and emerging stems with regular hand-picking or an approved iron-phosphate bait used as labelled.

Extremely toxic to cats: all parts, including pollen, and water from a vase containing lilies can cause fatal kidney failure. Any suspected cat exposure needs immediate veterinary attention. It is not known to be toxic to dogs or horses. Serious poisoning in people is not well established, but do not eat the plant; sap or pollen may irritate sensitive skin.

• Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum)

  Its flowers are usually longer, narrower trumpets and its leaves are narrow along the stem; it does not make the broad autumn basal rosette typical of Madonna lily.

• Regal lily (Lilium regale)

  Its white trumpets usually have pink-purple colouring outside and a conspicuous yellow throat; the stem carries many narrow leaves.

• White trumpet lily (Lilium formosanum)

  It has very narrow leaves and long trumpets often flushed purple outside, and usually flowers later in summer.

The Latin candidum means pure or shining white, while Madonna lily refers to the flower's traditional association with the Virgin Mary.

Propagation. Separate offsets during the brief summer dormant period and replant immediately at shallow depth. It can also be grown from seed, but seedlings take several years to flower.

Accepted botanical name

Lilium candidum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

East Aegean Is., Greece, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

Measured

Soil pH 7.5 to 8. Average height 120 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.