Now is the time to buy bulbs to plant immediately or you can store them in the crisper compartment of the refrigerator until early spring when they can be  planted out in the open garden or in large pots. 

Liliums are among the easiest and  most beautiful blooms  and come in a vast colour range or red, white, yellow, orange, lemon, pink, combinations of  two or three colours, as well as spotted flowers.

Some newer varieties exhibit brush marks which are streaks of contrasting colours.  Lilium nepalense is  most striking with funnel-shaped pale green flowers that curve back to reveal a maroon-red centre.

They range in height from dwarf varieties suitable for pots or rockeries to plants that produce stems nearly two metres tall bearing up to 30 separate flowers. Many varieties have a rich sweet perfume and all make superb cut flowers.

Liliums require a rich, acidic soil that is well drained.   Where azaleas and camellias thrive liliums will grow happily. Plant in full sun with a good mulch to keep their roots cool.

Plant the bulbs 15-20cm deep and sprinkle a little complete fertiliser over the soil after planting.  In late autumn the stems will look a little shabby but don’t cut them down until they turn yellow. Liliums must not be allowed to dry out over the summer as they are not drought tolerant.  

Every three to four years the clump may become overcrowded. When this occurs, dig the clump once it has died down, separate the bulbs and replant straight away, giving each bulb space to grow. 

Among the easiest liliums to grow are the LA hybrids (L. Longiflorum x Asiatic) which flower in spring. The most beautiful are the Oriental hybrids and the most stately are the Trumpet varieties. 

Liliums are divided into four main groups of  Asiatics, Trumpets, Orientals and Species. 

Asiatics are the first to flower, beginning in late October.  They grow about 1m tall and  come in a wide  variety of colours.

Trumpets bloom around Christmas and grow from 1m to 2.5m tall with most having a beautiful spicy perfume. 

Orientals flower from January to March and grow from 60cm to 2.4m tall and also have a beautiful perfume. 

Species liliums bloom all through spring and summer and depending on the weather can still be seen  blooming right through to mid autumn.

Liliums can be propagated by division of bulbs, offsets, scales, seeds, tissue culture and bulbils.  Lilium bulbs are made up of scales (like an onion) which can be peeled off to make new plants.  

Place the scales in a plastic bag with some hormone rooting powder, shake until the scales are coated then add some damp sphagnum moss and seal the bag. Place in a warm spot until you see  shoots appear. 

June 4: North-West Lilium Society annual bulb sale at Latrobe Memorial Hall from 11am to 1pm. 

June 20: The Australian Plant Society meets at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, Launceston at 7.30pm. Speaker for the evening is Dr Greg Jordon with the topic “Protaceae – a Gondwanan genus”.  Visit www.apstasnorth.org. 

June 21: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at the Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm. 

June 22: The Launceston Orchid Society will meet at the Newnham Uniting Church Hall, George Town Road, Launceston at 7pm.

Daily: The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, at Romaine, Burnie is open from 9am to 5pm.