Oriental Lilium 'Rio Negro'

Fragrant magenta red blooms with heavy spotting and delicate white border. The free flowering blooms are around 13cm across. There is a touch of blue to this flower that is most evident in the evening light.

These ostentatious flowers command attention. They make it easy to create an indulgent display of colour for summer, they are gorgeous in the garden and perfect for potting and cut flowers too.

Their heady fragrance permeates the summer garden with its sophisticated notes.

As well as adding glamour and fragrance to the garden, Lilies are tough enough to withstand our hot summers.

Plant Lilies in a humus rich, well drained soil. Water to establish and keep moist during active growth. They are best protected from the hot afternoon sun.

It is a good idea to fertilise your Lilies, this will help to give you the best blooms. Adding an organic fertiliser when you first see growth, then again as they are fading is ideal.

If you are growing your Lilies in pots, fertiliser is even more important and in this case a slow release pellet such as Thrive, or a regular application of liquid fertiliser is best. Water the pots regularly, potting mix is perfectly drained so dries out quickly, especially during summer. It is important for the growth of the bulb that regular moisture is maintained.

In warmer climates, it is a good idea to grow your Liliums in part shade or morning sun, as your flowers will last longer.

Our Tip: when cutting your lilies it is ideal to leave around 1/2 to 2/3 of the stem to keep feeding the bulb so it can produce next year’s flowers.