Oriental Lilium 'Zambesi'

Huge white flowers with a decadent perfume and plenty of staying power. A great cut flower choice.

Lilium 'Zambesi' is an O.T. hybrid is also known as an Orienpet Lilium It is a cross between an Oriental Lily and a Christmas or Trumpet Lily.

These ostentatious flowers command attention and are worthy of it. Their highly perfumed, opulent flowers offer wonderful height and plenty of colour. Oriental Lilies 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 and when cut will fill your home with delightful perfume.

Oriental Lilies are tough enough to withstand our hot summers. Plant into a humus rich, well drained soil. Water to establish and keep moist during active growth. They are best when 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 can work well. 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 and longevity of the flowers that regular moisture is maintained.

In warmer climates, it is a good idea to grow your Liliums in part shade or morning sun, so 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.