The lily tree is an ambiguous and mysterious plant. Some gardeners admire its beauty, others argue that such a plant is not in nature. However, on the shelves of shops you can find seedlings of lily trees and, having invested some time and labor, grow a beautiful flower. Or a tree? Let's understand the intricacies of its cultivation.
The lily tree: reality or myth
So does a tree really exist? Those who know all about daylilies will say no. On numerous pictures and among all descriptions there is information only about the variety of lilies. True, this lily gives high, on average, one and a half meters shoots topped with large flowers. Sometimes these shoots are so dense that they resemble the trunk of a young tree. But, nevertheless, the plant in its essence still remains a flower.
Did you know? The plant, like the fashion for it, came from Canada, where hybrid varieties of OT class, "Oriental X Tubular Lilies", were bred. There, lily trees for their growth are called "Goliath" in honor of the giant of the ancient Greek myths. Flower growers appreciate plants not only for their growth, but also for their gorgeous flowers and the amazing scent they emit.
Such a miracle of nature appeared by crossing. Thanks to the hard work of the breeders, several varieties of the giant lily, which grows and produces amazing and large flowers of various colors with a delicate aroma, have been brought out. True, you can see such beauty only once every five years.In order to roughly understand what a lily tree is, we give a brief description of the plant. This perennial bulbous plant with hollow stems, heart-shaped leaves, which are located on the long petioles alternately. Long-tubular, turbid-shaped or cup-shaped, inclined flowers adhere to powerful pedicels and reach 30 cm in diameter. They appear in July and last for about a month. The number of lilies on one stem can be different, but they always look very impressive.
Selection of land for landing
Growing a lily tree in the garden requires careful selection of a place to plant. This should be a sunny area, but not open to the sun and wind. Direct rays desiccate the plant, and winds can break tall stems. In addition, the plant does not tolerate drafts. If a lily tree is planted in the southern regions, for planting it is better to choose a place that is lit for 4-5 hours in the morning.
The lily tree loves moisture. Without it, good growth and lush flowering is not achieved. To do this, the lower outlet of the plant and the roots, it is desirable to cover. Usually, for this purpose, low-growing plants are planted, which with their leaves protect the lower part of the tree from direct sunlight and help retain moisture. In this case, an excess of moisture for the plant is also destructive. Therefore, for planting it is necessary to choose the area where the groundwater is not too close to the surface. 
Important! The plant does not bloom every year. But if you want to admire its flowering every summer, plant near lily trees of different ages.So that the moisture does not linger in the soil, it must be drained, this will prevent the bulbs from rotting. The soil itself must be fertile. Its optimal composition is sod and humus with a low content of compost and clay. The lily tree feels good on acidic soils. Moreover, such a plant is less susceptible to diseases that affect lily cultures.
Proper planting of the lily tree bulbs
The lily tree as a whole is not very capricious, therefore planting, as well as caring for the plant, is relatively simple. You can focus on the rules of cultivation of lilies, but with a few nuances. First consider the question of how to plant a lily tree.
For landing it is necessary to prepare the holes at 50 cm in depth and width. The distance between them must be at least a meter, otherwise the plants will argue for moisture, light, and will not be able to give all the power to develop. The bottom of the pits is filled with a drainage layer of about 20 cm. It can be broken bricks, crushed stone or sand. Top of them sprinkled with a mixture of earth and humus (or compost). The prepared wells are left for about 7 days to allow the earth to settle a little. Then you can plant the bulbs. In this case, the rules of planting onion crops do not apply. That is, it is not necessary to deepen the bulb by 2/3 of its height, simply sprinkle it with earth, so that at the beginning of the growing season the bulb protrudes slightly above the surface.
An interesting question is when to plant a lily tree in open ground. Do it in late September or early October, so that the bulb overwintered in the ground. At the first frost planting mulch needles or fallen leaves. If the winter is given out with little snow, it is advisable to put snow on future beds - this helps the plant to winter without unpleasant consequences. In the spring, the first rosettes of leaves should be protected from the dangerous spring sun and return frost.
Although the plant itself is very impressive, it looks great in combination with other flowers in the garden, especially with grassy perennials. Therefore, deciding what to plant with a lily tree in a flower bed, choose something from low-growing plants. They are planted in mixborders, along fences and as a hedge.
Features care for lily tree in the process of growing
As already mentioned, the plant does not require scrupulous care. It is enough to protect it from excess moisture, direct rays of the sun and ensure that the ground does not dry out. But due to its specificity, the lily tree puts forward some special requirements for care.
How to conduct watering
Water the plant as the soil dries out so as not to disturb the bush and not to erode the soil at the root. Regular watering is once a week. In dry periods, watering can be doubled. In the southern regions of planting mulch. This helps keep the roots from overheating.
Fertilization
To get abundant flowering and tall stems, you need to feed the lily tree. Conduct it from the moment the first leaves appeared, and until flowering. Organic and mineral fertilizers are used, a growth stimulator is periodically added to the water.
Important! Do not use manure as a top dressing. It can provoke fungal diseases in the plant.
Garter to the support
The plant grows high, and when buds form on it, its balance is disturbed.
The heavy top easily slopes downwards under strong gusts of wind, it can break or glance. Therefore, it is recommended to tie the plant to the support.
How to prepare for winter
How to care for a lily tree in winter depends on how old it is. If this is the first planting, the beds with bulbs are covered with a special cover, for example, plastic wrap.
The plant that has the stems should also be closed for the winter, but a little differently. Some gardeners leave stalks that have shed their leaves so that you can comfortably bind them and close the plant for a period of cold weather. Another easier to pre-cut the stems.
Reliable wintering ensures proper care of the lily tree during the growing season. It is especially important to monitor the proper level of soil moisture in the fall. If you follow the above rules, then already in the 2-3rd year, the lily tree will delight you with the first flowers that will be densely littered with a long stem.
Did you know? It is believed that the plant has medicinal properties. For example, sheets used for burns. The bulbs can be ground into flour and made tortillas.The lily tree is a tall, lush and showy flower with an amazing scent. True, under this name as an advertising ploy sold a lot of fakes. But if you are attentive and buy the right bulbs, you will find a beautiful plant that can be planted as an independent flower, and in company with others. Caring for a lily tree implies sufficient watering, avoidance of waterlogging and direct sunlight. And then in the 2-3rd year, you can admire the large and fragrant flowers.
