Lilium (x) longiflorum Eyeliner - Easter Lily

The Lilium or Lily ‘Eyeliner’ is a hybrid of Asian and longiflorum lilies (LA), appreciated for its delicate fragrance and its large petals of pure white, discreetly speckled at the throat and finely edged in purple-black. Its cold resistance allows it to be introduced into many gardens, even in regions with harsh winters. Sophisticated, of great class, its cut flower lasts longer than that of classic Asian lilies and its summer flowering is longer.

The Lilium ‘Eyeliner’ belongs to the Liliaceae family, resulting from a cross-breeding between Lilium longiflorum and various Asian lilies. This cultivar was introduced in 2006 by the BV Ornamental Crop Testing Centre in the Netherlands. A large-caliber bulb produces stems rising to approximately 1.2 m in height. Its growth is fast, with bulbs multiplying easily over the seasons. Flowering occurs in June-July. Its cup-shaped flowers measure up to 19.2 cm in diameter. The petals, white inside, are subtly marked with purple-black stripes at the base and along the edges, creating a delicate contrast. The throats of the flowers present a light green hue. Each green stem, speckled with dark spots, bears on average five upward-facing flowers, emitting a light and pleasant fragrance. The plant's leaves, of a bright green, measure approximately 13.5 cm long by 3.2 cm wide. The vegetation dries up in autumn, while the bulb enters a resting phase. The bulbs are reserve organs with fleshy, overlapping scales.

Longiflorum hybrid lilies such as 'Eyeliner' flower after 12 or 13 weeks of cultivation, they can be "forced" by planting them early in the season in a veranda or a warm room. The soil that hosts them should remain moist throughout the growth and flowering period.

The Lilium ‘Eyeliner’ finds its place in the middle or background of flower beds. It is also superb in a pot to enhance a terrace. To enhance this lily, it can be paired with perennial plants such as the 'Becky' Shasta Daisy with large white flowers, the 'Gentle Shepherd' Daylily with large ivory-white flowers and green throats, and the ornamental grass Stipa tenuifolia 'Pony Tails' for its light and moving texture. The 'Walker's Low' Catmint, with its numerous lavender spikes, will accentuate the elegance of the lily. In a vase, pair this lily with the white Calla Lily and roses of 'Margaret Merril'.