Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden

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Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden

Namaskar Desi Gardeners. Lily collectors are always looking for more varieties. Here we see some of the rare and lesser known lily plants from all over the world. Note that some of these are not true lilies but have been called and grown so for years.

Lilies are amazing flowers with blossoms that have  their unique beauty. These come in several bright colours, some with stripes, some dots, and some in never-seen-before shades. Lily bulbs are pretty much the same to care for and need the same soil making it a preferred choice among gardeners.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily for your garden

Lily-of-the-Nile / Agapanthus

Agapanthus, also called the Africal Lily and Lily-of-the-Nile is a hardy perennial. Originating from southern parts of Africa, this lesser known lily can survive drought and hot weather. The foliage is long grass like that stays green for almost all over the year. The flowers are a beautiful shade of blue blossoming in a bunch.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Agapanthus

Agapanthus flower is most commonly blue with a hint of purple. However some pink and white varieties are also found.

Peace Lily

Peace lilies make great houseplants. Although they are not very difficult to find, most people are not aware of this plant.
Peace lily is coveted for its beautiful white flowers that exude peace and serenity.

 Peace lily

Crinum / Spider Lily

Not so much as a lesser known lily among garden experts, Spider lily comes in many varieties. The white variety is quite popular throughout India and is often seen growing wildly around roads and fields.

Crinum lilies are hardy and look best when grown in groups. The flowers are very beautiful and attract a large number of bees and butterflies.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Spider lily

Tiger Lily

Native to Asia, Tiger Lilies are beautiful perennials. Although a lesser known lily, it is popular among lily plant collectors. The name derives from the stripe-like pattern in the petals.They like well drained and moist soil and do well in Indian climate.
Tiger lilies are profuse bloomers than the other types of lilies.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Tiger lily

Toad Lily

A lesser known lily plant, it has small flowers in blue, purple and white. The Toad lily foliage, which grows two to three feet, stays green all thoughout the year. It is one of the few lily plants that prefers shade. It likes moisture and a rich soil and is quite pest resistant.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Toad Lily

Leopard / Blackberry lily

Another lesser known lily, the plant derives its name from its spotted petals. Leopard Lily will grow well in shaded or semi-shaded area. This perennial can grow tall, up to 6 feet. The flowers are multicoloured in red, orange and yellow and bloom in late summer and monsoon.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Leopard Blackberry Lily

Bush Lily/ Clivia

Clivias are one of the prettiest lilies. The bloom in bunchs of bright orange and red. Once considered a rare and lesser known lily, it is fast becoming a favourite of gardeners worldwide.

Clivia can be grown indoors but they perform best outside. This is a hardy plant and is easy to propagate and care for.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Clivia

Jersey lily/ Amaryllis belladona

The Jersey Lily is closely related to the amaryllis with a few differences. A native of South Africa, this plant has light pink flowers with a slight scent. It is often sold in the market simply as a pink amaryllis.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Jersey Lily

Canada lily

The Canada lily is a hardy plant with huge, attractive and conspicuous flowers. Growing up to 8 feet in height, it holds multiple flowers in bloom. Although a wildflower that grows around Cananda and United States, it is considered a rare plant.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Canada lily

Grass Lily / Star-of-Bethlehem

Looking somewhat like Rain lilies, the grass lily has long grass like foliage. It bears pretty white flowers and is a hardy perennial.Grass lily has been used a medicinal plant for hundreds of years.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Grass/ Bethlehem Lily

Peruvian Lily / Parrot Lily

If you failed at growing azaleas in the garden, grow the Peruvian lily instead. The flowers bear an uncanny resemblance. The Parrot Lily is known for its many beautiful shades in white, pink, yellow, orange and peach. Although a lesser known lily, these plants make a great addition to the garden. The beautiful flowers are very popular among florists as they make wonderful bouquets.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Peruvian Lily

Inca Lily

Inca lily is native to the Andes mountains in South America. However, the plants have become naturalized and grown all over the world and will also grow easily in our gardens in India. You can grow them in the soil and soon enough, you will get a colony of it. You can grow as borders but they will grow just as well in pots.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Inca Lily

Lady Alice Lily

Lady Alice is a new type of hybrid lily derived from cross breeding Trumpet with Tiger Lily. It has beautiful big blooms in white and shades of yellow with green stamens. It does best in full sun giving attractive flowers that stay for weeks.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Lady Alice Lily

Golden Rayed / Mountain lily/ Yamayuri / Auratum

Although quite a lesser known lily in India, the Auratum is a must for your garden. It is a true lily that is native to Japan. The flower is white with traces of gold that makes it extremely special. Interestingly, the lily bulbs are also eaten as a vegetable in Japan and China. Usually lily bulbs are considered toxic to humans and animals both.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Mountain lily

Turk’s cap/ Martagon lily / Turban lily

The flower of the Turk’s cap lily looks similar to the Tiger Lily. However, if you want a gorgeous show of true lilies, go for this one. The plants grow up to a few feet with a show of many big-sized gorgeous flowers. The flowers resemble a Turkish cap and hence the name.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Turks Turban Lily

Hedychium Lily / Butterfly Ginger / Dolan Champa

A native of India, the Hedychium is a very hardy plant. Once planted, it will stay no matter the weather. Best of all, it has heavenly fragrance.

Dolon Champa grows white flowers. Some more varieties are available in the market with red, yellow and pink flowers.

 

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 Michigan lily

A true lily, it grows as a wildflower in Canada and United States. The plant grows up to nearly 5 ft with flowers on tall stalks.The flowers look similar to Tiger lilies. Not only is this a lesser known lily, it is also a highly endangered species.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Michigan Lily

Red hot pokers/ Torch Lily

Torch lilies are popularly called Red hot pokers because when their flowers blossom, they put the garden ‘on fire’! A very attractive flower, it will not only attract bees, birds and butterflies but also the attention of your neighbours.
Torch lilies are fairly easy to grow, mostly requiring a well drained soil.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Red Hot Poker flowers

Wood / Philadelphia / Prairie lily

A native of North America, the Prairie lily grows as a wildflower. A true lily, its habitat is becoming threatened as the prairie land dwindles off. The plants are small with bright reddish orange flowers.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Philadelphia Lily

Lily of the valley / Mary’s tears

Lily of the Valley is not so much of a rare and a lesser known lily. Not a true lily, however it has been called so a long time. The plant is known for its delicate bell-shaped flowers. The blossoms are scented and they present a rare charm.
A perennial plant, it prefers a cooler climate. It is also used as a medicinal plant.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Lily of the Valley

Lily of Nepal

A true lily and a very rare and lesser known lily. The nepal Lily originates in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India and Bhutan. It is also considered one of the most beautiful lilies. This creeper lily is quite difficult to find.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Nepal Lily

Pumilum / Coral Lily

A native of Asia, Coral lilies have stunning flowers in scarlet red with glossy petals. The plant grows a stem on which 15 to 20 flowers bloom, making quite a show.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Pumilum Coral Lily

Madonna lily / Lilium candidum

The Madonna lily is considered a scared flower for thousands of years. A graceful flower in white, it depicts the purity of Madonna, the Mother of God. These beautiful lilies have been part of religious painting and tales.
The flowers are not not beautiful to look at but are also scented.

Rare and Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Madonna Lily

Regale/ Royal Lily / Christmas lily

The Royal Lily originated from China and has since been naturalized all over the world. The plant has beautiful, big trumpet-shaped flowers with a distinct fragrance. The white flowers have hints of yellow and purple making it a striking flower to grow in your garden.

Lesser Known Lily Plants for Your Garden - Christmas Lily

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