Lilium Distant Drum

The double asian lily 'Distant Drum' is as captivating for the beauty of its flowers as it is for its sweet fragrance. This recent variety produces double flowers in summer, with a perfect texture. The colour is a deep pink nuanced with pale pink, barely marked by small yellow signals at the throat. Its very sturdy stems bear up to 6 flowers grouped in umbels. It is a robust and easy-to-grow plant, reliably flowering every year. It will bring a lot of charm and freshness to borders or large rockeries. It is obviously a wonderful cut flower.

The 'Distant Drum' lily is a deciduous bulbous plant, with a narrow and very upright habit from spring onwards. It belongs to the lily family. This plant will reach 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35in) in height, increasing in strength over the years, and the clump will spread without a theoretical limit over time, with the bulbs producing bulblets through vegetative multiplication. The spectacular flowering takes place in July-August. Along the particularly strong stems, up to 6 wide, fragrant flowers, grouped in umbels, appear upright. They are fleshy and waxy, deep pink, edged with pale pink in the centre of the petals. At full bloom, small pale yellow areas can be seen near the throat. The reverse side of the floral pieces is tinged with light yellow-green. The peculiarity of its flowers lies in their duplication; 3 ranks of outer petals, much larger, arranged in a staggered manner, surround a small central corolla formed by 3 light pink petals. The stamens of double-flowered hybrids do not produce pollen. The stems are covered with alternate, medium green, narrow and shiny leaves.

A plant that prefers rich humus soil, this lily appreciates well-drained and light soils. It can be associated with perennial plants or modest and sparse bushes such as dwarf maples or deciduous azaleas, as it likes to have its base in the shade. The latter will help prevent the stems from bending under the effect of the wind. 'Distant Drum' pairs well with daylilies, chamomiles, and Coreopsis, as well as roses. The lily is ideal for borders and, of course, for bouquets.