Martagon lily, an exceptional bulb flower

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The martagon lily is a remarkable protected bulb flower that is unique thanks to its blooming and to its foliage.

Also useful: the three lily diseases and how to multiply a lily bulb.

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.

Main Martagon lily facts

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 – June to September

The most admired of botanical lilies, it is one of the special exceptional plants that every collector loves having in his or her garden.

• Read also: advice on caring for lily

Planting martagon lily

Martagon lily originated in the mountains, and is quite hardy, but as always, it is preferable to avoid days of freezing when planting.

• Lily bulbs are planted from fall to spring while avoid periods of deep cold.
• Plant these bulbs at a depth of more or less 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) , or 2 to 3 times the height of the bulb.
• Space them at least 6 inches (15 cm) apart, in clusters of 4 to 5 bulbs.
• For your terrace, you can plant them in pots in fall.
• In case of moist clay soil, follow our advice to solve the issue.

Care and pruning martagon lily

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.

• This lily, like many others, is vulnerable to the lily leaf beetle and its close cousin, the shining leaf beetle.

Learn more about Martagon lily

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.

• Read also: advice on caring for lilies