Lilium (x) longiflorum Menton - Easter Lily

The 'Menton' hybrid lily is an elegant cross between Lilium longiflorum and Asian Lilium, offering large flowers in pastel shades and great adaptability to the garden. With its broad petals of soft orange infused with pink, it stands out for its refined style and generous flowering. Whether in flower beds or bouquets, this lily is perfect for adding a touch of softness and colour.

A member of the Liliaceae family, the Lilium 'Menton' (LA) was developed in 2018 by the Dutch breeder Vletter en den Haan Beheer BV. This cultivar is distinguished by its strong, light green stems touched with purple, proudly supporting its four large upward-facing cup-shaped flowers. Each flower, measuring up to 29 cm wide, presents a range of soft hues: the interior combines a pinkish orange with a greenish yellow throat, while the exterior features slightly orangish edges on a salmon pink base. The stamens are crowned with dark brown pollen, and the flowers emit a light fragrance. The foliage is green, with slender leaves 21.5 cm long and 3 cm wide, arranged alternately on the stem. This lily reaches a height of 1.05 to 1.60 m depending on bulb size and growing conditions. It blooms profusely in July-August. Vegetation dries up in autumn, while the bulb goes into dormancy. The bulbs are reserve organs with fleshy overlapping scales.

LA hybrid lilies, such as 'Menton', generally bloom after 12 or 13 weeks of cultivation, they can be "forced" by planting them early in the season in a veranda or warm room. They are highly cultivated for cut flowers. The soil they are planted in should remain moist throughout the growth and flowering period. Winter protection, in the form of a thick mulch, is not unnecessary in very cold regions

The 'Menton' Lily is an excellent variety for sunny flower beds where its soft colour easily complements perennials and other summer bulbs. It pairs particularly well with Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’ for a contrast of shape and colour, Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ whose orange and pink tones resonate with those of the lily, as well as the Dwarf Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Fair’ with white flowers. The White Gaura lindheimeri 'Snowstorm' completes this combination by providing a soft and light effect around the large flowers of the Lilium Menton.  The lilies appreciate having their feet in the shade, neighbouring plants will help prevent the stems from tipping over in the wind.