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Lilium candidum
  • Madonna Lily

a member of the Lilium genus in the family Liliaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Lilium candidum has 0 edible uses listed
Lilium candidum has 0 material uses listed
Lilium candidum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Bulb - cooked. The raw bulb contains an acrid principle, but this is destroyed by drying or thorough heating[1]. When cooked the bulb is pulpy, sweet and sugary[1]. Rich in starch, it can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum).

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

An essential oil from the flowers is used in perfumery[1][2].

Unknown part

Essential

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The Madonna lily has a long history of herbal use, though it is seldom employed in modern herbalism because of its scarcity[3]. The bulb and the flowers are astringent, highly demulcent, emmenagogue, emollient and expectorant[1][4][3]. The plant is mainly used externally, being applied as a poultice to tumours, ulcers, external inflammations etc[1][3]. The bulb is harvested in August and can be used fresh or dried[1][3]. The flowers are harvested when fully open and used fresh for making juice, ointments or tinctures[3]. The pollen has been used in the treatment of epilepsy[5].

Unknown part

Astringent
Demulcent
Emmenagogue
Emollient
Expectorant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - immediate epigeal germination[6]. Sow thinly in pots from late winter to early spring in a cold frame. Should germinate in 2 - 4 weeks[7]. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people prefer to leave them in the seed pot until they die down at the end of their second years growth. This necessitates sowing the seed thinly and using a reasonably fertile sowing medium. The plants will also require regular feeding when in growth. Divide the young bulbs when they are dormant, putting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when the plants are dormant[K].

Division with care in the autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately[8]. Bulb scales can be removed from the bulbs in early autumn. If they are kept in a warm dark place in a bag of moist peat, they will produce bulblets. These bulblets can be potted up and grown on in the greenhouse until they are large enough to plant out[8]. Bulblets are formed on the stem just below the soil surface. These should be dug up in the autumn and replanted immediately, preferably in a cold frame for growing on until large enough to plant out into the garden[9][7].

The formation of bulbils on the stem can be induced by either removing the stem at flowering time and layering it just below the soil surface, or by removing all the flowers before they open.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Lilium candidum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers an open free-draining humus-rich fertile loamy soil with its roots in the shade and its head in the sun[10][8]. Prefers a sunny position[9] but also succeeds in shade[7]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[11]. Grows well in acid[12] and limy soils[1][12][13][10], though it prefers a limey soil[8].

A very ornamental plant[11][4]. It is seen as a symbol of purity and in Christian tradition is devoted to the Virgin Mary, in pre-Christian times it was sacred to Juno, the Goddess of heaven[3]. The flowers have a scent of heather honey[14]. The Madonna lily is generally very hardy and easy to grow[9] but it is unpredictable and does not grow or flower well in all gardens[10][3]. It is also susceptible to botrytis[9]. Only just cover the bulb with soil[13][8]. It is best to leave the clumps undisturbed since they resent being moved[9][3], but if you need to transplant then this is best done in late August to early September, certainly no later than mid-October[9]. Plants produce a basal rosette of over-wintering leaves in the autumn[8], these die off as the plant comes into flower[15].

The plant should be protected against rabbits and slugs in early spring. If the shoot tip is eaten out the bulb will not grow in that year and will lose vigour[8].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lilium candidum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Lilium candidum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Lilium candidum
Genus
Lilium
Family
Liliaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[3][1][4][5]
Material uses & Functions
[1][2]
Botanic
[16][8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 0.25 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lilium candidum 2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    6. ? ? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society (1982-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 RHS Lily Group. Lilies and Related Plants. ()
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.5 Woodcock. and Coutts. Lilies - Their Culture and Management. Country Life (1935-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30253-1 (1989-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. (1938-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Fox. D. Growing Lilies. Croom Helm (1985-00-00)
    14. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    15. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    16. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)

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    Facts about "Lilium candidum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLiliaceae +
    Belongs to genusLilium +
    Has common nameMadonna Lily +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partRoot +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeBee +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageLilium candidum 2.jpg +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useEssential +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has mature width0.25 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +, Demulcent +, Emmenagogue +, Emollient + and Expectorant +
    Has primary imageLilium candidum 2.jpg +
    Has search namelilium candidum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameLilium candidum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +