Pink and violet petals mottled with purple curl back above dangling orange stamens, several to a stem, and give off a soft scent at the start of summer: this is the martagon lily (Lilium martagon), the most admired of the botanical lilies. Leave it undisturbed and it returns, year after year.
If you keep cats: like every Lilium, the martagon is toxic to cats, pollen included.
Watch for the pest: martagons are attacked by the scarlet lily beetle like every other Lilium.
| Name | Lillium martagon |
|---|---|
| Family | Liliaceae (lily family) |
| Type | bulb flower |
| Height | 20 to 40 inches (50 to 100 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun and part sun |
| Soil | ordinary to moist |
| Flowering | early summer to early autumn |
The most admired of botanical lilies, it is one of the special exceptional plants that every collector loves having in his or her garden.
Martagon lily originated in the mountains, and is quite hardy, but as always, it is preferable to avoid days of freezing when planting.
The Martagon lily is uncomplicated because no care is needed.
It is a plant that stays put year after year and doesn’t need to be disturbed…
Simply cut the flower stems just under the wilted flowers, but keep the leaves whole.
It’s very important to wait for the plant’s leaves to have dried up and wilted away completely before cutting them out for the winter.
Beyond the wild pink-and-purple species, nurseries and bulb catalogues offer white, wine-red and golden forms, most of them martagon hybrids that share the same turk’s-cap flowers and the same liking for dappled shade. The table below sets out the ones most often found on sale.
| Variety | Flower colour | Markings | Height band | Best position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| var. album | Pure white | Unspotted | Medium | Light shade, woodland edge |
| ‘Arabian Knight’ | Orange-red to chestnut | Dark spotting, yellow throat | Tall | Part shade |
| ‘Claude Shride’ | Dark mahogany-red | Gold flecks | Tall | Part shade |
| ‘Mrs R.O. Backhouse’ | Yellow-orange flushed purple | Lightly spotted | Tall | Part shade |
| ‘Marhan’ | Orange-yellow | Red-brown spotting | Tall | Part shade |
Martagon lily is a protected species in some countries (certain parts of France like Savoie in the Alps for instance), especially in the mountainous areas, and picking them is illegal in order to protect them in their natural habitat.
It is applauded for its magnificent blooming which is rare since its main color is pink and violet and is mottled with purple spots.
A typical flower found in the European Alps, it grows in the wild in mountain prairies and pastures.
Right at the beginning of summer, martagon lily releases its soft delicate scent and embellishes gardens and terraces with its splendid flowers. Each flower (there can be several on a single stem) has pink and purple petals that curve upwards, with bright orange stamens hanging from them.
The name Martagon comes from Spanish Martago, the name given to Mars the god of war.
Add special organic bulb flower fertilizer to make the blooming even more spectacular!
