
LILY OF NEPAL Lilium nepalense
Lilium nepalense, the lily of Nepal, is an Asian plant species in the lily family. It is native to the Himalayas and nearby northern areas. Lilium nepalense grows up to about 1 m high. The flowers are pendant, pale green with a purple throat. The flowers are generally unscented during daylight hours and heavily scented after dark!
Type: Hardy perennial
Location: Sun or part shade
Hardiness zones: 4-8
Bloom time: Summer
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: As with many perennial seeds, these seeds require a period of moist cold to help them break dormancy. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:
Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds just under the surface of your growing medium, and water. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period.
If you are planting your seeds in late winter or spring, these seeds can be planted outdoors while it is still cool out (once the ground is workable and unfrozen), to receive the cold period naturally in the garden.