Chinese lily - description, characteristics, photo
Content:
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
The Chinese lily has several names that can mislead an inexperienced grower. This spectacular exotic perennial is also called leopard lily and Chinese belamkanda. The catch lies in the very definition of a flower as a lily. The fact is that this plant belongs to the Iris family, the genus Iris. In the scientific literature, it is designated as Iris Domestica - i.e. literally "homemade iris" or "domesticated". Thus, the Chinese or tiger lily is not actually a lily. The reason for its reckoning with Liliaceae lies in the amazing external similarity of this variety of iris with lilies and daylilies. Therefore, in the future, following the floriculture tradition, we will call it a leopard or Chinese lily.
Strictly speaking, the Chinese lily has a unique flower shape that differs from the lily flowers. No less exotic is its color - orange with a red speck, which allows us to call it a leopard.
Despite its exotic appearance, a plant such as Chinese lily is not too demanding to care for, it is quite capable of growing it at home or in a garden. But the leopard lily cannot stand the winter cold at all, so every year at the end of the season it will have to be transplanted into a container with soil and transferred to a closed and warm room. Compliance with this rule will allow you to enjoy the beauty of its flowering for many years.
Chinese lily: color description
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
So, the leopard lily, also known as the Chinese lily or belamcanda, actually refers to the irises. Therefore, the process of its reproduction and development to a large extent repeats the general picture characteristic of the entire Iris family and the Iris genus. Nevertheless, the catchy and in some ways even defiant appearance of this garden exotic is not difficult to associate with the delicate sophistication of irises. Perhaps that is why, until recently, this bright plant with flowers of unusual shape and color was considered by gardeners all over the world as a separate and only species of Belamcanda Chinensis of the genus Belamcanda. To this day, quite often the leopard lily is called Belamkanda, ignoring its scientific name Iris Domestica.
A plant such as the Chinese lily is included in the Red Book, since its existence in the wild is endangered, and the unique species itself is on the verge of extinction. Finding a wild leopard lily is not an easy task, so the popularity of its cultivation is only growing. The cultivation of this rare flower in gardens and botanical nurseries gives hope for the preservation and increase of its population.
Chinese lilies are deservedly considered one of the most spectacular perennial crops that act as accents in the garden composition. Their advantages include not only the beauty of the flowers and their long flowering, but also the attractive appearance of the leaves. Sometimes this plant grows up to a meter in height and even higher, but on average, the stems rise 0.6-0.7 m above the ground level.An unusual feature of the leopard lily is the arrangement of leaves - they are concentrated in the lower part of the stem, usually in quantity 6-8 pieces. It is its leaves of a light green hue that most of all remind of the belonging of this unusual plant to Iris: like other irises, they have a xiphoid shape and can reach 0.5 m in length and 4 cm in width.
The inflorescences of the Chinese lily are very large and have up to 20 lush and bright flowers.Their branched paniculate shape allows each "lily" to appear in all its glory, while the average diameter of each is 7 cm. The petals are rounded, and the flowers themselves are tubular. The perianth consists of 6 unequal-sized lobes connected at the base: the inner ones are much shorter than the outer ones. The flower has only 3 stamens. Each "lily" blooms for only a day, but since the process of bud formation on the plant goes on continuously throughout the season, the change of some flowers to others is almost imperceptible. Following the flowers, seed pods 3 cm long with very thin septa begin to form on the stems.
The flowering period of the Chinese lily in the territory of the domestic middle zone begins in the second half of June and ends, as a rule, in August.
Due to its unusual coloring, the Chinese lily resembles a fiery petal, but at the same time its color palette is represented not only by orange and red flowers. These flowers are also yellow, and there are variegated leopard lilies. But the affinity of their scale with the fire element is always noticeable, regardless of color.
Chinese lily: gardening use
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
This daring and invariably eye-catching exotic perennial always finds its place in the center of the composition. In the decorative design of the garden plot, the Chinese lily flower can be used in different ways:
- with the help of bright leopard lilies, spectacular spots of color are created on lawns and lawns;
- rather high stems of these plants make them convenient for the formation of mixborders;
- the obvious role of a catchy flower is an attention-grabbing accent in the composition of a flower garden;
- the neighborhood of a leopard lily with ornamental shrubs and trees makes the forest edges spectacular;
- compositions of fiery shades cannot do without leopard lilies;
- in pot compositions, these plants also successfully cope with the role of accents.
Chinese lily in the conditions of the domestic middle zone
Continuous cultivation of the Chinese lily in the ground is possible only in the southern regions with mild winters, which will not harm the capricious culture. In central Russia with its long frosty winters, the plant must be transplanted into a pot or container and covered in a warm room.
The Chinese lily does not require a large area to grow, so it feels great in pots and containers. Therefore, in regions with frequent changes in weather conditions, it is more expedient to cultivate it as a pot plant. At the same time, the rules for caring for a room Chinese lily for the most part repeat the set of recommendations for growing amaryllis.
Optimal conditions for the Chinese lily
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
The instability of the Chinese lily to cold does not mean that the leopard lily is capricious in everything and requires unique growing conditions. This exotic flower is able to adapt to a wide variety of conditions, although it still has certain requirements for the composition of the soil and the lighting regime. What conditions are most suitable for the successful cultivation of a leopard lily?
The fiery color of the plant fully corresponds to its preferences regarding lighting: it is best to choose a sunny area for planting it, although partial shade will not harm it. It should be borne in mind that it is under the rays of the sun that the flowering of the leopard lily will be as abundant and lush as possible.
Chinese lilies do not tolerate moisture stagnation in the soil, so it is preferable to set aside a well-drained area for planting them. Soil composition and quality also play an important role. The plant will thrive best on loose, nutritious garden soils. Moderate hydration is vital to avoid excess moisture during rainy periods as it can lead to disease.
Indoor Chinese lilies also need quality soil with a loose texture. A mixture of turf substance with sand and peat in equal amounts is ideal. Potted plants need constant and bright lighting.
Planting a Chinese lily
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
Planting Chinese lilies in the ground is recommended not earlier than May, when the possibility of night frosts will be completely excluded. When distributing plants on the site, it is best to maintain an interval of 15 to 20 cm between planting holes.
In order for Chinese lilies to quickly adapt to a new place, it is advisable to prepare the soil by applying fertilizers. For these purposes, organic matter is suitable - both humus and traditional compost.
How to care for a Chinese lily?
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
Further care for the Chinese lily will not be difficult. First of all, you should pay attention to the density of the soil and not allow the top layer to be compacted - therefore, the land around the leopard lilies must be periodically loosened.
While excess moisture is detrimental to these plants, drought is also undesirable. As a rule, summer rains fully provide leopard lilies with the necessary amount of water. But in dry periods, they still need watering, since drought adversely affects the formation of buds and the opening of flowers.
Indoor Chinese lilies should also be watered while paying attention to the condition of the soil in the pot or container. In the period between watering, it should dry out not only on the surface, but also in the middle.
Feeding on time will allow the leopard lily to unfold in all its glory. Garden plants will need only a few applications during the season:
- organic fertilizers are applied at the time of transplanting leopard lilies into open ground;
- complex fertilizers are applied in the phase of rapid growth and on the eve of the opening of the buds.
Indoor Chinese lilies need fertilization every 2 weeks: mineral mixtures and complex dressings are suitable for this procedure. More frequent fertilization is also possible for soil plants - with an interval of 2-3 weeks.
Chinese lily: preparation for wintering
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
Severe frosts, temperature changes and a small amount of snow in winter are detrimental to the leopard lily. She can tolerate a mild snowy winter in the soil, but still it will be much safer to transfer the plant to a closed heated room for the winter period.
Extraction from the soil is always stressful for the plant, so it must be done very carefully so as not to damage its root system. It is generally better not to touch the roots, so experienced gardeners recommend digging a leopard lily together with an earthen clod, trying to preserve its integrity. Then the plant is placed in a container or pot, in which it will spend the whole winter. Of course. Several attempts were made to leave the plant for the winter in the open field, and Kazakh and Ukrainian flower growers were able to achieve in some cases a positive result. However, in the conditions of the middle zone of Russia, it is still better not to risk it and take care of a comfortable winter stay for the exotic.
During the winter, the Chinese lily becomes a houseplant, since the optimal temperature for it is the one that is usually maintained in apartments - 18-23 degrees. At this time, she turns into a real sleeping beauty, all the processes of her life slow down and do not require constant human intervention. It is enough just to maintain a minimum level of soil moisture, which should be enough to feed the plant's root system.
In the spring, after warming up the soil, the leopard lily is returned to the ground.
The wintering of indoor plants fully corresponds to the conditions in which leopard lilies dug out for the winter stay.
Protection from diseases and pests
Chinese lily: photo of the variety
The Chinese lily is quite disease resistant. In fact, it is susceptible to only one disease - root rot. That is why it is so important to drain the area, avoiding even a slight excess of moisture in the soil, which will quickly provoke the process of rotting of the root system and the base of the stem. Among the pests, the Chinese lily has no enemies.
Breeding methods of Chinese lily
Reproduction of the Chinese lily is carried out in two ways: by seed and by dividing the rhizome.
The second method is much simpler and can be applied both in spring and autumn, immediately after the end of the flowering phase. When dividing, you should get a split with branched and strong roots and 2, or preferably 3 shoots. Transplanting new plants is carried out immediately to a permanent place, while it is recommended to add organic fertilizing to the soil.
The seed method of reproduction of the Chinese lily involves both sowing in open soil and the formation of seedlings with their subsequent transplantation to the beds.
Sowing seeds in open soil is recommended in October, for seedlings - at the end of February or in March.
The preparation of seeds for seedlings includes mandatory stratification, which can be carried out after sowing them in a container with soil. It is enough to put them in the refrigerator for a month. In the future, the seedlings should be provided with a suitable temperature and lighting regime, as well as the moisture level of the substrate. It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the containers is loose and air permeable. Watering is done as the soil mixture dries up. After the formation of the first 2 true leaves on the seedlings, a pick is carried out, young plants are planted in different containers. It is recommended to transfer seedlings to open ground not earlier than May.
The Chinese lily is a rather exotic bright flower, which, meanwhile, does not require much effort to care for it. Growing indoor Chinese lily at home is within the power of every florist, provided that all agrotechnical recommendations are followed.
