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Black Beauty Lily Bulbs

Lilium lancifolium 'Black Beauty'

$19.99
$19.99 $0.00
per Bag of 3
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ZONES  3-9 | Good to grow! Zone

'Black Beauty' Lily is hardy, easy to grow and produces a stunning show, with 15 to 40 flowers per stem. Its striking blooms range from red to burgundy and are contrasted by an eye-catching lime-green center star. Tolerates part shade and attracts butterflies. (Lilium)

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Description

This is the fabulous flower that actually opened the door for our modern Oriental Hybrids like Stargazer and Casa Blanca. This tough, pest-free perennial plant with its magnificently beautiful blooms taught gardeners that lilies may look very special, but growing them can be as easy as a daffodil or a tulip.

Black Beauty is a cross between two very important wild lilies, and that's why it's often grouped with other species lilies, and considered a garden treasure. Both parents are from the Orient. Lilium speciosum var rubrum was crossed with L. Henryi, to achieve Black Beauty, and many believe it was one of the most revolutionary and successful hybridizations in botanical history. This garden magic was accomplished by the legendary American lily expert, Leslie Woodriff in 1957.

Whatever you think of the lily, it has been a gardener's favorite from the beginning, and still competes with all the lavish new hybrids today. It is truly incredible in an arrangement. Another huge plus is its hardiness and dependability. Most anywhere in the US, a few bulbs planted this year will result in a widening and enlarging clump, often becoming practically a forest of lily stems. And in late summer when they bloom--with 15-40 flowers per stem--the show is like a rainstorm of gorgeous red bells, bobbing in the wind. There is only one Black Beauty lily, and no garden or wild meadow should be without it.

Growing Lilies: True lilies (which don't include daylilies and others which are not in the genus Lilium) are easy to grow today, and more popular every season. Since they are upright and take practically no space at ground level, it's easy to plant lilies between other established perennials and shrubs. Most can also tolerate some shade, which adds versatility for the gardener. There are many lily groups, but to keep it simple, we will consider only a few of the main types that are important to gardeners. Each lily we ship includes complete instructions for planting. So don't hesitate. You can easily bring the spectacular beauty of lily flowers to any summer meadow or garden

Tiger Lilies. This group is led by the famous old orange wild lily, which used to be called Lilium tigrinum. Botanists have changed that to Lilum lancifolium, but that doesn't stop most people (including us) from using the old name 'tigrinum.' From the original orange, the hybridizers have created new colors from white to pink. All have the large flowers, spots, and tough perennial qualities of the original.

Planting & Care

Growing Lilies: True lilies (which don't include daylilies and others which are not in the genus Lilium) are easy to grow today, and more popular every season. Since they are upright and take practically no space at ground level, it's easy to plant lilies between other established perennials and shrubs. Most can also tolerate some shade, which adds versatility for the gardener. There are many lily groups, but to keep it simple, we will consider only a few of the main types that are important to gardeners. Each lily we ship includes complete instructions for planting. So don't hesitate. You can easily bring the spectacular beauty of lily flowers to any summer meadow or garden.

'Wild' Lilies or 'Species' Lilies These are the true wildflowers from the world over. They are the ones all the glamorous hybrids are descended from. We're fortunate to have some of these botanical treasures on our list of lilies this season.

Oriental Hybrid Lilies are the now famous, very fragrant ones with large, flattened flowers such as red Stargazer and white Casa Blanca. These are the ones now so popular in the floral trade, but are also very easy to grow. They bloom from mid-summer through early fall. Most have very large, outward-facing, fragrant flowers.

Asiatic Hybrid Lilies are today's largest group of garden lilies, quite easy to 'naturalize'. This growing group of lilies was begun by hybridizers in the US, and were first called 'Mid-Century Hybrids.' Compared to Orientals, the Asiatic Hybrid lilies bloom earlier (early to mid summer), the plants are shorter, the flowers a bit smaller, and most blooms are upward-facing and star-shaped. Some of the most famous Asiatic Hybrids are yellow 'Connecticut King,' and the famous red, 'Gran Paradiso.'

Tiger Lilies. This group is led by the famous old orange wild lily, which used to be called Lilium tigrinum. Botanists have changed that to Lilum lancifolium, but that doesn't stop most people (including us) from using the old name 'tigrinum.' From the original orange, the hybridizers have created new colors from white to pink. All have the large flowers, black spots, and tough perennial qualities of the original. (By the way, don't call any old spotted orange lily 'tiger lily'. This one is the real thing, and no lily common name is more mis-used.)

Trumpet Lilies Sometimes called 'Aurelian Hybrids' or other names, the large, tall trumpet lilies are all descended from The Regal Lily, a white wild species lily from China. All are incredibly fragrant, and wonderful for cutting. They grow tall, and often need staking, since a well-grown stalk can have over 15 huge flowers. 

Further Reading

Shipping

As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun
  • Half Sun / Half Shade

Bloom Time

Early to late summer

Advantages

  • Naturalizes
  • Easy To Grow
  • Cut Flowers
  • Container Planting
  • Small Spaces

Additional information

Mature Height

44-48" tall

Bulb Spacing

3 per sq ft or 8-12" apart

Soil Type

  • Loamy Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average

Flower Bulb Size

16-18 cm

Planting Depth

6" deep

Planting Time

  • Spring / Summer

Flower Size

3" flowers

Plant Classification

Introduced Cultivar

Growing Zones

  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9
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Overall rating: 4.857143 / 5 from 7 reviews.

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Reviews

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"Thrives in Vermont and even bloomed after a 19 degree frost in May this year (after the buds had begun to set). Always fun to watch its fireworks show over the summer."

— The H. (5/5)

Gorgeous big lily!

"Love the big lily flowers! Grew in giant pot on deck and bloomed late July in Northeast."

— Maz T. (5/5)

Magical touch

"Oriental Lilies are so carefree and beautiful, they practically plant themselves."

— Flower P. (5/5)

Terrific Tiger Lily

"I was excited to get these. I love the cool color combination. The bulbs looked healthy, but I got concerned when they took FORV+EVER to show green! When they did bloom they where stunning. Everyone thinks they are SO COOL! I got 5 or 6 blooms per stem, hope next summer to have a bigger show. :)"

— Mom R. (5/5)

A Beautiful Flower

"Great Color, Its just a great flower to have in my garden."

— Linda (5/5)

They grew well and bloomed the first yea

"Lilies last for years."

— Marsi (4/5)

My favorite lily

"I love the colorations of this lily. Truly beautiful"

— The B. (5/5)

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