Incognito flowers

Flower & Garden Magazine, July-August, 1998 by Molly Dean

So-called `lilies' offer fragrance and food for families around the world.

The lily is one of the most celebrated of all flowers, praised by poets for its pristine whiteness, innocence and fragrance. The lily family, in fact, is one of the largest and most prominent of the plant kingdom. Notable lilies, which probably first come to mind, are the Madonna lily, the white Easter lily and the elegant Oriental lilies. I've often been intrigued by not only the famous lilies, but also the many appealing flowers that share the same name but aren't technically members of the lily family.

ZEPHYR LILY

The zephyr lily, for instance, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. This small, crocus-like plant has other appealing names like rain lily or raindrop, due to the flower's quick appearance after a rain shower. Other names are fairy lily and the picturesque "flower-of-the-west-wind," which is the literal meaning of its genera name, Zephyranthes.

The white zephyr lily (Z. candida) is the flower Spanish explorers first saw starring the banks of a river in Argentina. They were so struck by the image of these profuse white blossoms sparkling brilliantly in the sun that they named this body of water Rio de La Plata, or "River of Silver."

Another zephyr lily (Z. atamasco) is native to the southeast. It blooms in early spring in many of the famous gardens of the South Carolina Low Country, such as Cypress Gardens and Magnolia Plantation Gardens. I have seen it carpeting the ground beneath billowing azaleas and appearing to shine with white fire against the black swamp water. Beautiful as this lily is, its bulbs served as a food source for the Cherokee Indians during times of famine. Its funnel shaped blossoms are primarily white, but tinged with faint stripes of pink.

Z. drummondii, the Giant Prairie lily, another zephyr, is also found in southern gardens. This native of central Texas has large snowy flowers scented of primrose that appear from April throughout early summer and occasionally into fall.

Not all zephyr lilies are white. The large and showy Z. grandiflora, occasionally sold as Z. robusta, has graceful rosy-pink, 3-inch long flowers on 1-foot stems, appearing in most regions in late spring or early summer, and the golden yellow Z. sulphurea blooms prolifically midsummer until fall. Hybrid zephyr lilies, often difficult to obtain, come in a rainbow array of shades, including the rusty orange of `Capricam,' the peachy gold `Ellen Korsakoff' and the dark rose of `Ruth Page.'

Most zephyr lilies have delicate, grassy foliage that are evergreen on some species in warm climates. If they are kept alternately moist and then dry, it's possible to have flowers all year. Zephyr lilies can be used for naturalizing, in sheltered gardens, in temperate regions or in containers. (This particular lily is hardy to Zone 6 or 7) Most prefer a sunny location; the atamasco lily, however, likes a shaded, woodland location. The ideal planting time for any of these bulbs is the fall.

GINGER LILY

The ginger lily, or garland flower as it is sometimes referred to (Hedychium coronarium), is in the Zingiberace de family and is much grander in scale. This flower is fairly common to gardens of the southeast and tropical areas, yet not often mentioned in gardening books. The ginger lily is especially known for its delicious fragrance.

The ginger lily is native to India, Southeast Asia and China. It has elegant, long-tubed flowers, usually white, but occasionally varying from cream to yellow, apricot, orange and vivid red. As the flowers open, many people liken them to butterflies; this has inspired one of the plant's other common names, butterfly lily. The stems of the plant are tall and erect (3 to 5 feet) and bear smooth, lush, tropical-looking foliage.

Cultural requirements are similar to those of cannas. These include plenty of water during the growing season and rest throughout the winter. Hedychiums can take full sun if provided with sufficient moisture. After the flowers fade toward the end of the summer or early fall, the canes should be cut to ground level. In temperate climates (Hedychiums are usually hardy to Zone 8), most gardeners grow them in containers to be brought inside and covered during the winter. They should be divided every few years so they will continue to produce flowers.

Other obscure ginger lilies include H. Gardneranum, the kahili ginger native to the Himalayas; and H. flavescens, the yellow butterfly ginger. The kahili ginger has similar foliage to that of H. coronarium, but smaller, pale yellow blossoms accentuated with long and brilliant red stamens. These can permeate a room with their heady perfume. The yellow butterfly ginger also resembles H. coronarium, except for its larger flower clusters which are yellow with orange splotches and cream-colored stamens.

CALLA LILY

Although elegant and beautiful, ginger lilies are probably best known for their fragrance. The calla lily, on the other hand, is famous for its pure, sculptural form, appreciated over the centuries by painters, designers and tapestry makers. The shape of the blossom, technically a spathe encompassing a central spike containing tiny flowers, is fluid and trumpet-like and has a handsome, waxy texture.