Lilium African Queen (Trumpet Lily)

Deliciously fragrant, award-winner Lilium ‘African Queen’ is a fascinating Trumpet Lily with huge, bright apricot-orange trumpets marked with garnet-brown on the outside.

Deliciously fragrant, award-winner Lilium 'African Queen' is a fascinating Trumpet Lily with huge (6-8 in or 15-20 cm long), bright apricot-orange trumpets, facing outward or somewhat downward, marked with garnet-brown on the outside. Celebrated for its delicious fragrance, this prolific Lily produces clusters of 15-20 blossoms per stem for a spectacular long-lasting display. Plant it near a patio and enjoy its intoxicating fragrance on a summer evening!

  • Blooming in mid-late summer, this Lily constitutes an excellent border plant, providing striking color and contrast to the perennial border and mixes beautifully with annuals and other summer flowering bulbs. It is well suited to containers and the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh cut flowers.
  • Growing up to 4-6 feet tall (120-180 cm) on rigid, leafy stems, it performs best in full sun or part shade and is not fussy about soils, provided they are well-drained. Good moisture is required and dry soils should be avoided!
  • Reliable and easy to grow, this tremendous Lily won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society (2002).
  • Plant in spring or fall. Plant in groups of 3 bulbs at a minimum for a striking display! When flowering is over, cut back leaves and stems after they turn yellow.
  • Toxic to cats (though not for dogs or any known species)
  • This Lily is a member of the Trumpet and Aurelian Hybrids Division (VI) which includes lilies with medium-sized to large flowers, trumpet-shaped, bowl-shaped, flat or with reflexed tepals. The flowers are white, cream, yellow, orange or pink, often with a contrasting star-shaped throat. They are usually scented and their leaves are scattered with a narrow to medium width. There are 9 different types of lilies classified by the Royal Horticultural Society. And they are all real eye-catchers!

Requirements

Hardiness 4
– 8

Heat Zones 1
– 8

Climate Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Lilium – Lilies
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 4'
– 6'
(120cm
– 180cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 8″ (20cm)
Depth 8"
(20cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage