Oriental lily 'Casa Blanca'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates. Keep the root area cool without crowding the stems.

Water

Keep evenly moist during growth and flowering, watering deeply when the surface soil dries. Avoid waterlogged soil, especially during winter dormancy.

Soil

Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. In alkaline gardens, grow in containers with a suitable lime-free potting mix.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late summer; large, outward-facing, pure white flowers with recurved petal tips, prominent orange-brown anthers and a strong fragrance.

Foliage

Glossy, dark green, lance-shaped leaves arranged along upright stems; foliage yellows and dies back after flowering.

Growth

Moderate; established bulbs reach flowering height each growing season and gradually form larger clumps.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• 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

   3 ft (1.1 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 firm, healthy bulbs promptly in autumn or early spring, about 6-8 in (15-20 cm) deep and 12 in (30 cm) apart.
• Water at soil level during dry spells; do not leave pots standing in water.
• Feed with a balanced bulb fertilizer as shoots emerge, following the label rate.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch to conserve moisture, keeping it clear of emerging stems.
• Stake tall stems early in exposed sites, tying them loosely as they grow.
• Lift and separate crowded bulbs after the foliage dies back, usually every three to four years.

Pruning. Remove faded flowers before seedpods develop, leaving the leafy stems intact. Cut stems down to ground level only after they have yellowed and died back in autumn.

Autumn

Plant bulbs in freely draining soil; divide crowded clumps once the foliage has died back.

Winter

Check drainage and protect outdoor containers from prolonged saturation and severe freezing.

Early spring

Plant any remaining bulbs, feed emerging shoots and check for slug damage.

Late spring

Install stakes before stems become tall; inspect leaves for lily beetles where present.

Summer

Water during dry weather and secure developing stems to their supports.

Late summer

Remove spent flowers but retain all healthy foliage to replenish the bulbs.

Late autumn

Cut down dead stems and remove fallen foliage, especially any showing disease.

• Plant in groups through the middle or back of a mixed border for summer height above lower perennials.
• Combine with white flowers and silver foliage in a white garden, where the blooms remain conspicuous at dusk.
• Use among roses and hardy geraniums, with low companions shading the soil around the bulbs.
• Grow in large, deep containers near a seating area where the fragrance is welcome, provided cats cannot reach them.

Garden styles it suits: White garden, Moon garden, English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Hardy geraniums, Catmint, Roses, Lady's mantle, Hostas and Summer phlox.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects, including some moths. Deer and rabbits may eat shoots and buds.

• Scarlet lily beetles can strip leaves in affected parts of Europe and North America. Check frequently and remove adults, eggs and larvae by hand.
• Slugs and snails chew emerging shoots. Inspect at dusk, remove hiding places nearby and use an appropriate labelled control if needed.
• Botrytis blight causes brown leaf spots and damaged buds in damp weather. Improve airflow, avoid overhead watering and remove infected debris.
• Bulb rot develops in waterlogged soil. Improve drainage or grow in containers, and discard soft or rotten bulbs.

Extremely toxic to cats: leaves, stems, flowers, bulbs and pollen can cause fatal kidney failure, and vase water is also dangerous. Any suspected exposure needs immediate veterinary treatment, even before symptoms appear. True lilies are not known to cause this poisoning in dogs or horses, and 'Casa Blanca' is not generally regarded as poisonous to people; nevertheless, it is not a food plant, and ingestion may cause stomach upset.

• Regal lily (Lilium regale)

  Has more distinctly trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow throats and pink-purple shading on the outside; 'Casa Blanca' has broader, more open white flowers.

• Madonna lily (Lilium candidum)

  Usually flowers earlier, in early summer, and forms a basal leaf rosette in autumn; its white flowers are smaller and more trumpet-shaped.

• White Asiatic lilies (Lilium Asiatic hybrids)

  Usually flower earlier and have smaller flowers with little or no scent, unlike the large, strongly fragrant blooms of 'Casa Blanca'.

Lilium is the Latin word for lily, and 'Casa Blanca' means 'white house' in Spanish.

Propagation. Separate offset bulbs after the foliage dies back and replant promptly. Bulb scales can also produce new plants, though these take several years to reach flowering size; seedlings will not reliably reproduce the cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Lilium

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