What Is a Passion Lily?

Description

• Passion lilies come in many sizes and colors. The pink and yellow tango passion and dark red midnight passion are just two of the varieties of passion lilies available to gardeners. While some of these plants, such as the ladylike tango passion are dwarfs that grow to only about a foot, the midnight passion and other varieties can grow to over 4 feet in height. Plants have long stems and star- or trumpet-shaped flowers that typically bloom in June.

Passion Lily Uses

• The sturdy stem of the passion lily makes it an ideal plant for cuttings and placement in floral arrangements. Plant bulbs in mass quantity for a bright, colorful showing in the garden. Keep in mind that, although the passion plant provides a vibrant wash of color when planted in a large group, they are actually quite spindly. Make their appearance more attractive by planting shorter, coarser perennial flowers beneath them. The passion lily also makes an excellent potted plant and one bulb often produces multiple flowers.

Plant Care

• The passion lily prefers full sun to partial shade and a moist soil that is well-drained. Although it does well in almost any type of soil, the passion lily does not like standing water. Plants also do quite well in containers and will bloom inside during the colder months of winter. If plants are grown indoors, transplant them into the garden in March or April. Water plants weekly or when the soil is dry after transplanting. This will help the passion lily to produce another round of blooms in June.

Maintenance and Propogation

• Although the passion lily is simple to grow, it does require a little yearly maintenance. Cut back brown leaves and stems in late fall to prepare plants for winter. If propagation is desired, divide bulbs in the spring and plant elsewhere. The passion lily plant typically lives for about 10 years with proper care.