Description

Lilium candidum, the revered Madonna Lily, is one of the oldest cultivated lilies in the world, prized since antiquity for its pure white, sweetly scented trumpet blooms and its symbolic association with purity and spirituality. Flowering in early summer, often in June, this heirloom lily stands tall at approximately 90–120 cm and produces 4–6 large, outward-facing flowers per stem. What sets it apart is its unusual autumn-rooting behaviour — it forms a rosette of basal leaves in autumn, overwinters in leaf, and then sends up a tall flowering stem the following spring. This makes it essential to plant in autumn, ideally in well-drained alkaline to neutral soil in a sunny, sheltered site.

A classic choice for historical gardens, ecclesiastical planting schemes, and naturalistic borders, Lilium candidum thrives best in free-draining beds where winter wet does not sit. Its fragrance intensifies in the evening, adding sensory depth to planting near pathways or garden seating.

Plant Lilium candidum with Allium Mount Everest, Tulip White Triumphator, Camassia lecihlinii alba or narcissus recurvus to echo the white purity with an architectural presence. Or plant with Allium Globemaster or Camassia leichlinii for a blend of colour.

Though not a heavy pollinator magnet, Lilium candidum offers accessible pollen and mild nectar to occasional bees and hoverflies, particularly in sunny gardens.