Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 10/7/2004

Question
I live in the Spokane Wa. area and am digging up my flower bed for the first time in about 4 years. I have three lillie bulbs that are somewhat like garlic.  My quetion is does each clove produce a new lillie or do i leave them whole?  Thank you!

Answer
The lily bulbs do look a bit like garlic heads, but there are significant differences. Whereas garlic consist of a collection of individual cloves which are capable of growing on their own, the lily is more like an artichoke with overlapping fleshy scales attached to the heart.

The lily has a base plate from which roots grow. The overlapping fleshy scales, which form the shape, are all attached to the base plate (or heart). If you remove the individual scales, they will not grow and flower. They are not individual entities like a garlic clove.

While you can remove a few outer scales, if you remove a lot, you end up weakenen the bulb.

Individual scales can be removed for the purpose of propagating the bulb, however. Take a look at the below article for reference how. Before you plant the bulbs, remove a few scales and you can have many more flowering lilies in 3-5 years.

When you replant your bulbs, plant them 8-12" apart. Make sure that they are planted deep enough. Dig a hole 4 times as deep as the bulb is high. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and then place the bulb at the bottom. Backfill with soil. It is important that the bulb is covered by 3 times as much soil as the bulb is high because most lilies produce roots along the stem. if planted too shallowly, stem rooting is compromised.

Make sure the planting site is well draining, and if possible mix in plenty of organic matter, such as compost, humus, or shredded leaves to loosen the soil.

Next spring, fertilize after the lilies poke their head above ground and again just as the lily flowers. Unless you wish to harvest the seeds, deadhead (e.g. remove spent flowers) after blooming to avoid the lily spending energy on producing seeds. However, let the main flower stem stay green without cutting it back. It should be allowed to grow as long as possible.

Link to scaling lily:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18505/105602