PAEONIES AND LILIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 34 (Supplement)

PAEONIES AND LILIES

COMBINED DISPLAYS ?' 11 ' There is no doubt that for the best results paeonies should be planted in the early autumn. March is an ideal month, for then there will be a chance for tie roots to establish themselves before the cold weather sets in. Vigorous young; roots with two or three eyes, will give better results than old clumps, but they must not be too deeply buried; two or three inches of soil above the topmost eye will be ample. The combination of lilies with paeonies is a sound idea, for the cultural needs of each, are similar. A bed planted with the two will maintain interest over the greater part of the summer months. It has been remarked that paeonies should never be planted with subjects which flower at the same time as themselves, as their delicate hues can only be appreciated when there are no more brilliant neighbours to distract attention from them. Whether Of not such a statement can be accepted is a debateable point, for although the delicately shaded ones are the first favourites, there are many varieties which are really brilliantly coloured. The fact remains, however, that a border devoted to paeonies does make! a show during the early months of Summer, and the lilies which follow, will derive a great deal of benefit from the Jihade provided for the lower parts of their stems toy the foliage of the paeonies. Another point in favour of the association is that both fere really dot at their best until they are thoroughly established, the golden rule in each case being to avoid transplanting until it foscoiries actually essential. One plan which has proved consistently eUccess-

ful is that of planting the paeonies m triangular groups of three, each group consisting of only one variety. The plants are put in about one yard apart, and in the centre of each clump one or two lilium bulbs are planted. Sufficient space is left between the triangles to establish further groups of lilies, and one or two of the smaller species ate planted ixl the foreground. Throughout the early part of the summer the paeonies are a blasse of colour, and the first lilies are in flower before the paeonies fade. With a wise selection of species the border will not be flowerless until well into the autumn months.

Experience has proved that, so long as they are ,tfeated not as bulbs, but as hardy plants which must be moved with the least possible delay, and without allowing the roots to suffer exposure to light and air, lilies will transplant with less check to growth in spring. August is a good month to commence .the* operations, and by this time the paeonies will have made sufficient growth to guide the planting. For the background, moderately tall varieties should be chosen. Lilium Henrii. the Orange speciosum, Lilium tigrinum, Fortunei giganteum, Lilium testaceum and Lilium auratum are all suitable. These are stem rooting-variotie3, with the exception of testaceum, and should be planted with six or seven inches of soil over the bulb. Testaceum is satisfied with two inches above the bulb. Moderate growers for the main part of the border would include, Lilium regale, the best of the hardy trumpet lilies, Lilium Brownei, Lilium Hansonii, Lilium Croceum, Lilum monadelphum sovitizianum, Lilium Willmottiae, and Lilium Martagon. Of these the first five are stem rooters and need planting deeply; the remainder need only three or four inches of soil over the bulbs. For tho immediate foreground choice can be made from the numerous varieties of Lilium umbellatum and Lilium thunbergianum, or from Lilium tenuifolium, Lilium rubellum and Lilium concolor and its varieties. The slender flower spikes one or two feet in height, add a beauty and finish to the display, which could; not very well be obtained by introducing some other plant.