Lidl (this deal): potted Oriental lily, 19cm pot, 50 to 60cm tall, in growth £8.99
Homebase: potted Oriental lily, 5L £12 to £18
Flowers by Flourish: Oriental lily plants from £12 each (£23.95 for two)
B&Q (YouGarden): Oriental lily dry bulbs, packs of 5 £8 to £13
At £8.99 for an established, in-growth potted lily you get instant height and fragrance, and it comes in below the £12-plus that garden centres charge for a comparable potted plant. The one honest trade-off: dry bulbs work out cheaper per plant if you are happy to wait a season for them to grow and flower. For colour and scent this year with no waiting, £8.99 is a fair price for the size.
Oriental lilies are the fragrant ones, the big showy blooms that scent a whole patio on a warm evening, so they punch above a lot of pricier plants. Anyone grown the Lidl lilies before, and did they come back the following year Which colours have you seen in store this time Post your photos and results below so people know what to expect.
What you get: a potted Oriental lily, 19cm pot, 50 to 60cm tall, with dramatic large flowers and strong fragrance, suited to borders, patio pots or as cut flowers for the house. In store from Sunday 30/08 (article 10053157).
A few tips to get the best from them, and to keep them coming back:
Drainage and position. Lilies rot in soggy soil, so plant in free-draining ground or a pot with gritty compost, in a spot with around 6 hours of sun. The old rule is heads in the sun, feet in the shade, so mulch the base or tuck a low plant in front to keep the roots cool.
Deadhead, but keep the leaves. Snip off each flower as it fades so the plant does not waste energy on seed, but leave the stem and foliage to die back naturally after flowering, as that is how the bulb refuels for next years display.
Watch for lily beetle, and note the cat warning. The bright red lily beetle can strip a plant fast, so pick them off by hand when you see them. Worth flagging too that all parts of lilies are highly toxic to cats, so cat owners should site them with care or skip them.
