Tree Lily Anastasia
The Tree Lily Anastasia and others in our garden
Anastasia, one of the recent lilies from America which is a hybrid of oriental and trumpet Lilies.
In America where they were bred, they are known as Orienpets and in the UK they have been named Tree Lilies. Its all a bit confusing really. Take Anastasia for instance, here in the UK the bulb sellers cant seem to make up their mind on how to promote it, some just refer to it as a new introduction, more often than not the whole range of them have been named (Tree Lilies) however Parkers where we purchased ours have named them (Goliaths) There is even more confusion which I will make further reference to. In the meantime what a beauty is Anastasia, last Summer was her first appearance in our Aberdeen garden.
We planted Anastasia and a few other Tree Lilies in the early Spring last year. Anastasia grew to a height of six feet, coming into flower in mid August. The expected height is said to be around 7/8ft hence the name tree lily. Apparently it takes two or three years for them to give of their best. This year the cool weather held back the opening of the flowers on Anastasia and they didn’t open until the first week of September. However it is taller this year almost seven ft six inches, and has many more blooms.
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One of the other Tree Lilies (Honeymoon) purchased at the same time reached only five ft last year, and hasn’t grown any taller this year. Honeymoon flowers are a beautiful shade of yellow and have an exquisite fragrance. I am keeping my fingers crossed as it is said, not to expect the full potential of this one to be reached until the third year.
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(Miss Lily) another of our Tree Lilies, looking very much like Anastasia performed just the same this year as it did last, OK as I have said they may not have reached full potential but I was made aware of this, what I didn’t tell you so far is, you can expect to get up to forty blooms on the one plant, the jury’s out.
Actually the broad stripes on Miss lily are quite a deep red and not pink like Anastasia. Another interesting point about the Tree Lilies is the fact that the colour of the blooms and breadth of the stripes vary, depending on the Summer temperatures.
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Tree Lily (Leslie Woodriff) is the most magnificent one we have in this collection
Flowering in August last year, and this year the quality of the blooms on Leslie Woodriff are quite outstanding. This other highly perfumed Lily grew to over six feet tall last year and just the same this year except it has more blooms this time around. Bred by Robert Griesbach. It seems that Leslie Woodriff was introduced long before the name Orienpet or Tree Lily ever came about. Check this link for some very interesting facts on
Tree Lilies and Leslie Woodriff.
The last of our Tree Lilies which I have to show is Robert Swanson. Last year it produced no flowers. However in early Summer of this year the stems and buds were looking quite strong. Unfortunately the season has been very wet and colder than usual, when the buds did finally open on the 1st of September some of the blooms were damaged and had brown marks, all in all looking a bit sorry for themselves. The colour of yellow and red is very striking on Robert Swanson.
There is actually one other Tree Lily which was planted at the same time as these ones and as yet still hasn’t bloomed (Mr Job) a red one with apparently a hint of white around the edges. All going well, we shall see what next year has to offer.
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Other Lilies in the garden this year were, Asiatics which were the first to bloom in July. They were looking strong but the constant rain and temperatures during the day sometimes as low as 12c/53f soon had them looking worse for the wear. The orange Tiger Lilies with black spots, last year I was bragging about them, this year they were dreadful, a few squidgy looking blooms attempted to make a go of it in late August early September. Turkscap Lily Hiawatha, well actually (I think it is an Asiatic with the look of a turkscap) red with black spots, this one was the best of them all under these conditions. The Orientals grew strong but the blooms didn’t stand much of a chance, although on a few warmer days the air in the garden was engulfed in a most beautiful fragrance. Well that’s all about Lilies for this year.
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In my link (Our Garden) above I have just added the garden pictures for 2012. I am using a different format this time. Using a gallery slideshow from (Jetpack Carousel) I would like to know what your opinion is. I will most likely add a few Autumn photos later. In the meantime here is a couple below which I quite like.
Dull pictures next time b-a-g. All about Box and Yew hedging.
Alistair – Every time I think I’ve seen your best lilies, you follow-up with even more spectacular ones. I wonder what’s coming next?!
Yes I think I may have a preference for the Turk cap ones Rosie.
I’ve never grown these lilies though my neighbour does and I admire them in her garden though just can’t see them being part of my own. This year I did start to admire the turk cap ones in various colours and they seem to reach similar heights to your tree lilies. Lovely set of photos Alistair.
They probably like the free draining of your sandy soil but they are hungry devils also.
Deb, our woodland is controlled to a certain extent, in fact I am getting concerned about the large Sycamore which is in danger of dominating the area if I am not careful.
Alistair, I am amazed at your lilies, and your entire garden! I very much enjoyed the slideshow of your 2012 gardens. All of your flowers are beautiful, and even your woodland garden is pristine! Your woodland is grown-up, refined, and drop dead gorgeous; mine is a wild step cousin!
Great lilies! I planted a few tree lilies a few years ago but in my poor sandy soil they were more like dwarf tree lilies. Not quite what I had in mind.
Thats the beauty of Lilies Masha, they don’t take up much room.
I suppose when they reach their full height some may find them just that bit too tall.
Hi Alistair, Not everyone likes the spicy fragrance of tree lilies, but I happen to love that scent. The flowers really do perfume the air. I like the Anastasia and Honeymoon lilies particularly. The slide show is excellent and shows off your garden nicely.
So many beautiful lilies, I can’t pick a favorite! Thank you for the eye-candy. I am thinking of adding some too if I can find room :). I love the sunset shot of your garden.
Sunil, some may view these Tree Lilies as a bit of a curiosity, not bad if placed wisely though.
Thanks SB, when they are as late as this in blooming its not quite so bad as it extends the season.
Amazing plants, Alistair. When the season for lilies arrives in my garden, I am always pleasantly surprised at how much beauty there is. Great post!
Those lilies do look stunning. I’ve only got a limited number of varieties and now I want to get more after looking at those pictures!
Hi Linnie, when in the gallery page there is a small x on the top left hand side, this takes you back when clicked. You know that I use canes, not a very pretty sight. Many people wander if I am from another planet but its never usually suggested in such a kind way.
Oh Alistair, your gardens are always so lovely. How on earth do you do it? I liked the slide show but couldn’t see how to get back to your post from it so I started over. Your lilies are amazing but I find that for me the taller they are the more they fall over. Not yours though. Are you really from another planet or what?
xo L
Christine, in recent times this has become my favourite part of the garden.
Anastasia is still blooming Crystal
The rain here was excessive this Summer Jordan.
Orienpet is certainly an awkward word. But Tree Lily seems a bit silly. Thanks for your comment. I looked up climate information for Aberdeen. It’s not so very different than Seattle. We’re quite a bit farther south, at about the latitude of Paris. So it’s not surprising that it should be somewhat warmer here. We’re also about 200 kilometers from the coast. We lack those cooling breezes in summer. We get a bit more rain, even though it doesn’t fall in summer. I suppose the lack of summer rain is the biggest difference.
I’ve been growing tree lilies for about three years now. I had a lovely display last year, not so good this year, probably because of the weather. Yours look really beautiful.
Alistair, your lilies are quite something to behold! I had a look at your garden photos and I’m green with envy over your Secret and Woodland Garden … the one with the pathway and the bench. How magical and beautiful it looks, the sort of garden I aspire to. It’s just too beautiful Alistair!!
I know you did say that in the post. Donna mentioned seeing them for sale both ways in the US. I buy from Canada too where I would have expected to see the other name and only ever saw them listed as Orienpets. I will have to look harder, I guess. I am actually glad you noted another name for them.
Those tree lilies look fantastic and they look even better in your garden, contrasting and complementing with the other plants surrounding them. Gorgeous blooms indeed!
I know Carolyn, even when I am not even trying to be funny I can be a scream.
I think it is only in the UK that they are known as Tree Lilies.
What an oddity on naming the Orienpets. I have a number of them and specify them often to extend the lily season of the Asiatics until the Orientals flower for clients. I buy wholesale and never saw them advertised as Tree Lilies.
I really had to laugh at your comments about height and full potential and the lily only reaching five feet!!!
Yes Holley, and then perhaps we could under plant them with David.
Yes Holley, and then perhaps we could under plant them with David.
I love lilies in any form, but these are very impressive. Thanks for letting us know what they are called in different countries. I had never heard the term lily tree, but orienpets I have. (Although I don’t have any in my garden.) I think I like the term Goliath the best – it’s descriptive and easy to remember!
Hi Helene, not a Tree Lily, but I think you would really like the one which I have named Hiawatha.
I forgot all about the association with Lilies and funerals Ryan. Keep those Zombies away from me though, you really should keep your blog up to date.
If you have a cat catmint don’t let it near the very poisonous Lily pollen. Glad you had a look at the gallery, quite like it myself.
A sniff button, I will check on my plugins and widgets Astrid.
Hi Larry, some of these Orienpets are still in full bloom here, very late, although we are having some good weather at the moment. The only part of our garden that has needed the hose this year is the woodland bank where it is exceptionally free draining. Hope you don’t lose any of those fabulous trees which are in your garden.
Donna, our Summer has waited until September to give of its best. Our perennial phlox is finally in full bloom.
Alistair I love the tree lilies and have seen them advertised both ways here in the US. I love the yellow one. For having such cool, wet weather your garden is amazing and I love the Carousel and will have to give it a try. It really showcases the beauty of your garden.
Finally got a break in the weather yesterday! Have a lovely weekend.
Hi Alistair… truly amazing! Orienpets in September… ours were at peak on July 8th and we had open gardens to commemorate them! I’ve found that there are many more selections available from the UK and have just obtained a permit from the USDA to import them along with other types of lilies. I have several orienpets that are in the wrong place and expect to move many of them this fall. It should be interesting… others will be left as they are despite being in the same spot for several years and show no inclination to need moving or dividing. Without a doubt, the most astounding plant of all was Sheherazade which continued in some aspect of bloom for five to six weeks despite our terribly hot summer. I believe this selection carries many additional ‘lateral’ flower buds which open after the main show has passed. whatever the case, these were a highlight of the summer gardens.
We continue with our drought despite areas around us having experienced good rains. I think we’ve had perhaps 1/2″ of rain from on high in the past six weeks, so I continue constant watering and pulling about of hoses, in hopes of saving addition long term drought damage to a great many of the trees.
Take good care and my best to you and your wife…. Larry
Hello Alistair
Wow!! Your lilies are so colourful, so healthy – so gorgeous!!! The few I had bloomed in July so it’s so refreshing to see these beauties in your garden now. Thanks for all the information. I will buy more lilies next spring – they are truly a fragrant joy (too bad blogs don’t have a “sniff it” button! I bet they smell beautiful.)
Hi Alastair, I like the gallery, very comprehensive, gives a very good idea of the whole garden. The lilies are very beautiful and stately. I am prejudiced since I had them inside in a vase and ended up getting my clothes and carpet dyed orange! But I know it’s unfair – they belong in the garden and they are definitely spectacular. cheers, catmint
My wife’s favourite flowers, Lilys, can’t blame her either they look great. We even had them at our wedding despite them being thought of more as a funeral flower.
I have also been a bit confused about what the actual name is for the lilies I bought this year, exactly the same as yours, only a different variety, I bought ‘Miss Feya’ and I also bought them from J. Parkers. I think I will stick to Giant Goliath Lilies, but Tree Lilies is just as good a name – or will hopefully be when mine gets a bit more mature!
My lilies were a mixed bag this year too, some did very well, others didn’t flower much or not at all. Not enough sun and too much rain combined with too many slugs early in the season I guess. Loved your Robert Swanson, think I need to add it to my wish-list!