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Lilium candidum - L.

Common Name Madonna Lily
Family Liliaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocky slopes and in scrub to 600 metres[50, 90].
Range S.W. Asia. Naturalized in Europe around the Mediterranean.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lilium candidum Madonna Lily


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Lilium candidum Madonna Lily
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Lilium candidum is a BULB growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf from October to July, in flower in July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Bulb - cooked. The raw bulb contains an acrid principle, but this is destroyed by drying or thorough heating[4]. When cooked the bulb is pulpy, sweet and sugary[4]. Rich in starch, it can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum).

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Demulcent  Emmenagogue  Emollient  Epilepsy  Expectorant

The Madonna lily has a long history of herbal use, though it is seldom employed in modern herbalism because of its scarcity[238]. The bulb and the flowers are astringent, highly demulcent, emmenagogue, emollient and expectorant[4, 7, 238]. The plant is mainly used externally, being applied as a poultice to tumours, ulcers, external inflammations etc[4, 238]. The bulb is harvested in August and can be used fresh or dried[4, 238]. The flowers are harvested when fully open and used fresh for making juice, ointments or tinctures[238]. The pollen has been used in the treatment of epilepsy[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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Other Uses

Essential

An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery[4, 61].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers an open free-draining humus-rich fertile loamy soil with its roots in the shade and its head in the sun[90, 200]. Prefers a sunny position[143] but also succeeds in shade[163]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Grows well in acid[42] and limy soils[4, 42, 47, 90], though it prefers a limey soil[200]. A very ornamental plant[1, 7]. It is seen as a symbol of purity and in Christian tradition is devoted to the Virgin Mary, in pre-Christian times it was sacred to Juno, the Goddess of heaven[238]. The flowers have a scent of heather honey[245]. The Madonna lily is generally very hardy and easy to grow[143] but it is unpredictable and does not grow or flower well in all gardens[90, 238]. It is also susceptible to botrytis[143]. Only just cover the bulb with soil[47, 200]. It is best to leave the clumps undisturbed since they resent being moved[143, 238], but if you need to transplant then this is best done in late August to early September, certainly no later than mid-October[143]. Plants produce a basal rosette of over-wintering leaves in the autumn[200], these die off as the plant comes into flower[188]. The plant should be protected against rabbits and slugs in early spring. If the shoot tip is eaten out the bulb will not grow in that year and will lose vigour[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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The PFAF Bookshop

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Propagation

Seed - immediate epigeal germination[130]. Sow thinly in pots from late winter to early spring in a cold frame. Should germinate in 2 - 4 weeks[163]. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people prefer to leave them in the seed pot until they die down at the end of their second years growth. This necessitates sowing the seed thinly and using a reasonably fertile sowing medium. The plants will also require regular feeding when in growth. Divide the young bulbs when they are dormant, putting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when the plants are dormant[K]. Division with care in the autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately[200]. Bulb scales can be removed from the bulbs in early autumn. If they are kept in a warm dark place in a bag of moist peat, they will produce bulblets. These bulblets can be potted up and grown on in the greenhouse until they are large enough to plant out[200]. Bulblets are formed on the stem just below the soil surface. These should be dug up in the autumn and replanted immediately, preferably in a cold frame for growing on until large enough to plant out into the garden[143, 163]. The formation of bulbils on the stem can be induced by either removing the stem at flowering time and layering it just below the soil surface, or by removing all the flowers before they open.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Readers comment

Dr. Yoram Gorski - Mediflor Ltd   Mon Jun 29 2009

Dear Sir / Madam We are looking to purchase WHITE LILY ( LILY MADONNA ) Essential Oil or Absolute . Oil / Absolute / Aromatic Water We will be most grateful to any one who may tell us where we can buy those products . Thanking you for your kind attention Best Whishes Dr. Yoram Gorski Mediflor Ltd [email protected]

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