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PLANT OF THE MONTH

June, 2009

Plant of the Month Feature

by Jack Pringle
Arboretum Roots Board Member

Lilium
'Stargazer Lily'

I selected this spectacular garden beauty because it has long been the favorite of my wife, both for its outstanding bloom and its delightful scent. We became familiar with this stunning flower when we were drawn to its fragrance in cut flower arrangements. Little did we know that this lily could be grown in a zone five Clinton, Iowa garden. We acquired two dozen bulbs from a mail order catalog and were treated to a three to four week display during the months of July and August.
 
You can pick up almost any home design or florists magazine and you will see these amazing colorful stars on display. The 'Stargazer' is known for its ability to enrich and add decorative value to almost any bouquet. The star has six petals and a waxy texture. Its colors graduate from a dark red-pink center to a lighter pink and it is almost-white at its edges. 'Stargazers' produce six to nine large blooms that are often six to eight inches in diameter and form on the ends of two to three feet stems. The trumpet-like blooms open over a two to three week period and endure for two to three weeks in the garden. The 'Stargazer' is a perennial plant.
 
Several of my resources recognize Mr. Leslie Woodriff, a California lily grower and breeder as the developer of the 'Stargazer' in 1978. He named it 'Stargazer' because of its large, upward-facing blooms. However, one source attributed the introduction of the 'Stargazer' in 1978 to Peter Schenk, with the flower trade in mind. Upon further research, I have found that Schenk's major contribution was for the white 'Stargazer,' not the standard Lilium.
 
Growing the 'Stargazer'

  1. Begin with quality bulbs from a reputable source.
  2. Plant six to eight inches deep in well-drained, not soggy, slightly acidic, fertile soil.
  3. Plant in full sun, although they will tolerate afternoon shade.
  4. Add a teaspoon of bone meal to the hole before placing the bulb in the hole.
  5. The 'Stargazer' will prosper in zones three to eight.
  6. Plant the bulbs in early Spring or Fall.
  7. Fertilize twice, once in the Spring and again just before blooming. Excess fertilizing can promote disease and soft growth.

 
Maintenance of the 'Stargazer'
  1. Monitor soil moisture all season. Do not let the soil dry out.
  2. Lily bulbs never go fully dormant, so they must be treated carefully and should be protected from drying out before planting.
  3. Protect the plant from wind and rain by staking. Select a bamboo stake slightly shorter then the flower stalk (a four-foot stake is ideal). Place it close to the stem and plant it firmly in the soil, taking care not to damage the bulb. Tie the stake and stem together loosely with garden twine.
  4. As soon as the foliage dies back, dig bulbs and remove scales, bulbils and offsets from the bulb and immediately replant.
  5. Remove dried stems only after foliage dies back. Cut stems off at ground level after they turn brown, but never cut them down while the leaves are still green.
  6. Mulch with composted manures or compost and shredded bark to keep the roots cool while adding humus to the soil.
     
Enjoying the 'Stargazer'
  1. The 'Stargazer' is an unmatched beauty to be enjoyed in the garden.
  2. Enjoy the 'Stargazer' in a cut flower arrangement. When cutting, never remove more than the top half of the stem to preserve the foliage needed to replenish food reserves. In the bulb. Immediately remove the dark orange pollen-laden anthers in the flowers. This allows the blooms to last longer and prevents pollen stains on clothes and tablecloths. Allow the stems left in the garden to continue to grow during the remaining season.
  3. According to the Animal Poison Control Center, the 'Stargazer' Lily is toxic to cats, but not to dogs or horses.

 
Sources:

Linda Naeve, Iowa State University Extension, ISU Extension Website
ASPCA Poison Control Center Website
Rainy Side Gardeners Website
Martha Stewart Website
Wikipedia Website
Pro Flowers Website
Bulb and Bloom Website
 

About the author: Jack Pringle has been a Master Gardener for four years, is a member of the Clinton County Master Gardeners' Advisory Board, is a volunteer at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum, serves on the Bickelhaupt Arboretum Roots Board. He is retired from the principalship of Elijah Buell Elementary School. He serves on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, the Clinton Herald Editorial Board, the Clinton Community Schools Facility Committee, and the Clinton Mayor's Advisory Appointment Committee. He enjoys working in a large vegetable garden, tending a hybrid tea rose garden, working with perennials, and is an avid bird watcher.