Lilium (x) longiflorum 'Backhand' Butterfly Spring® - Easter Lily

The Lily 'Backhand' Butterfly Spring® (Lilium hybride LA) is a remarkable cut flower, known for its intensely yellow flowers resembling butterflies. This hybrid combines the vigour of Longiflorum lilies and the rich colouring of Asiatics. Its early and abundant flowering is precious in borders, where it brings a sunny touch. Easy to grow, it will delight flower enthusiasts as much as it has won over professional florists.

The 'Backhand' Butterfly Spring® is an LA hybrid introduced by Laan Flora Facilities B.V. in 2023 in the Netherlands. It is a bulbous plant with an upright habit, featuring stiff stems that can reach between 1 m and 1.20 m. Its abundant flowering is borne on stems of a pronounced green with slight purplish traces. Each stem bears from mid-June onwards numerous "double" flowers, of medium size (14-15 cm), cup-shaped, with small petals in the centre. They are devoid of pollen. The petals display a beautiful harmony of colours: a golden orange background blends into a bright yellow towards the base, with lighter edges and very discreet red spots. The floral bud is green-yellow. The long glossy leaves, of a bright green, are narrow and lanceolate, with parallel veins. The vegetation dries in autumn, while the bulb enters a resting phase. The bulbs are reserve organs with fleshy overlapping scales.

Lilium LA hybrids (Longiflorum x Asiatic) such as 'Butterfly Spring' combine the qualities of Asiatic lilies and Lilium longiflorum. Their flowering typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks, in early or mid-summer. They offer large, brightly coloured and long-lasting flowers, facing upwards, often slightly fragrant, on strong stems. Their thick petals withstand inclement weather well, and their flowering is long-lasting. They are appreciated for their good vase life and require little maintenance in a well-drained soil in the garden. These hybrids are cold-resistant, naturalize easily, and return each year. 'Butterfly Spring' will bloom after 9 to 10 weeks of cultivation. It can be "forced" by planting the bulb early in the season in a veranda or a warm room. The soil should remain moist throughout the growth and flowering period.

In the garden, 'Backhand' Butterfly Spring® is ideal for creating sunny scenes. Its radiant hues pair perfectly with perennials such as the orange-red coneflower 'Hot Papaya'. The pure white 'David' panicled phlox will bring light alongside it, while the 'Goldsturm' rudbeckia reinforces the intensity of the yellows. For a softer composition, pair it with the 'Sunset' decorative dahlia. This lily will be splendid in a container and of course in a bouquet.