Plant martagon lilies for lots of spring blooms

Martagon lilies are best known by their common name "Turk's cap." The word "martagon" is actually derived from a Turkish word for a certain type of turban. People seeing the original red-colored variety (Lilium martagon) might confuse it with the popular tiger lily (L. lancifolium) due to the shape; however, they are two distinct species of lilies.

The martagon lily is a native flower of Asia and Europe; i.e., from Mongolia to Portugal. It has been cultivated in Great Britain for so long that it has become naturalized there and is now considered a native.

The original martagon lily has dark red blooms with dark spots and fully recurved petals. The flowers hang down from dainty-looking stems on stalks that can grow to be 6-feet-tall. The dark green leaves grow in whorls up the stems. These lilies may look dainty; however they are actually quite hardy to Zone 3. The prefer to be grown in a semi-shady location in moist, well-drained, acidic soil. They can, however, tolerate alkaline soil and heavy clay and loam. They can even handle full sun; although, I would recommend that those people living in the more southern regions of the hardiness zones provide their martagon lilies with at least some shade to protect from the hot afternoon sun that is common in the South. Look for a spot where your martagons can remain for quite awhile. Generally moving them to allow more space or frequent dividing are not necessary. While martagons self-seed quite readily, the seeds are slow to germinate and can take up to seven years to bloom. Sometimes, though, seeds that are planted right after they are harvested and which then experience a period of cool weather will germinate a bit more quickly. Nevertheless, martagon lilies are slow to spread and can remain in the same spot for years. These lilies not only are very cold hardy, they are also rather disease-resistant. Newer hybrids that are being developed regularly are even more cold-hardy, which means that northern gardeners can easily grow them. As with all perennials, just mulch well to provide winter protection. Also, as with all lilies, allow the stems and leaves to die back naturally after the blooms are spent in order for the bulbs to take in nutrients for the next year's blooming season.

Blooms usually appear in the early spring and can be found in a variety of colors; e.g., white, yellow, orange, tangerine, mahogany, red, purplish-black, brown, lavender, and lilac. The variety of colors is due to the constant hybridization of the species. For example, various shades of yellow were introduced with the successful crossing of the original L. martagon with the L. hansonii, which is also sometimes called a yellow Turk's cap or a Japanese Turk's cap. Following are some colors/varieties that are my particular favorites and which you might like to include in your own landscape. Plant en masse for maximum effect.

Red with dark spots

This is the color of the original Turk's cap and is a must for any perennial flower garden. In addition, you can find various shades of red among the numerous hybrids available.

Dark purplish-black

The color of this lily is quite breathtaking, in my opinion. I have other different types of flowers in my garden in a similar color and have found that any flower that looks almost black catches people's attention.

Yellow

There are several different shades of yellow within the martagon lily family, from a creamy pale yellow to a brilliant yellow. Any of the yellows with brighten up the shady area in which you might plant your martagons.

White

Usually sold as 'Alba,' this is a pure white martagon lily with no spots whatsoever. It will definitely stand out in your collection.

Martagon lilies can often be rather difficult to find locally, unless you live in an area where these lilies are extremely popular. Probably the best way to find a good selection of martagon lilies is to look online. There are a few online sites, which have decent selections.  The Lily Nook probably has one of the best selections of martagon lilies that I have found online.  Klehm's Song Sparrow does not have a huge selection, but you can possibly find some different colors.  The Lily Garden is a last resort, in my opinion. They generally specialize in Oriental and Asiatic lilies; however, from time to time, you can maybe find a martagon or two in their "Special Collections."  When purchasing martagon lily bulbs plan on paying around $20.00 or even more per bulb.  Yes, they can be expensive; however, they are well worth the expense.