Lilium Lavon

Lilium 'Lavon' is part of a lineage of 'giant' hybrid lilies resulting from cross-breeding between oriental and trumpet lilies. From the former, they have retained their wonderful fragrance, while the latter have given them with a wide range of colours. They are spectacular plants, in terms of the size of their bulb and their stature, as well as their oversized flowers. 'Lavon' bears magnificent soft yellow flowers, enhanced by a central area of red tinged with pink. Its strong floral stem is taller than a man but does not require staking. It will bear up to 30 flowers that open over almost a month in summer. It is a captivating garden plant that will improve year after year. It is also a fabulous and long-lasting cut flower that will add a personal touch to homemade bouquets.

The genus Lilium belongs to the family Liliaceae. 'Lavon', introduced in 2004 in the Netherlands, is part of a horticultural category called the Oriental/Trumpet Group. This vigorous variety can easily reach 2m (7ft) high when in bloom, with a width of 50 cm (20in), when grown under optimal conditions and after 3 or 4 years of cultivation. This hybrid sometimes takes a little time to establish itself, but it proves vigorous and hardy over the years if it has well-draining soil, rich in humus, and relatively dry in winter. Flowering occurs in late July or early August and lasts for several weeks, with 20 to 40 buds on each strong stem, on a mature plant. The flowers measure 20 cm (8in) in diameter and have a very pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening. The flower is composed of 6 thick petals, beautifully recurved at their tips, and wavy along the edges. The waxy yellow petals are almost white at the edges and strongly tinted with dark red-pink in the centre and towards the throat of the flower. Long cream-yellow stamens with purple pollen complete the harmony of colours. The large, dark green leaves are 18 cm (7in) long and 3 cm (1in) wide and their tough texture tends to repel attacks from the lily beetle. The vegetation of the lilies disappears in winter and emerges from the ground in spring, quite late. It is not uncommon for each bulb to produce more than one stem after the first year of cultivation.

This lily prefers humus-rich soil and does not like chalky and poorly-drained soils, as its large bulb is susceptible to winter moisture. It can be a good idea to cover the base with an impermeable cover in winter or with a thick mulch of fern fronds or conifer branches, although this technique is effective, it is not attractive. The flowers will last longer and their colour will be preserved if the plant is slightly shaded in the afternoon. You can grow 'Lavon' Lily with white lilies (Lilium regale Album, Lilium speciosum Album), orange lilies (Lilium henryi), grasses and perennial plants, as it likes having its roots in the shade. These will also help prevent the stems from bending in the wind and rain. The lily is ideal at the edge of a grove, accompanied by low shrubs (small rhododendrons, azaleas, Rosa rugosa, Gardenia Kleim's Hardy), and of course in bouquets.