I have Asiatic lilies that did not bloom this year but instead got little bulbs on the top of the plant where blooms should have been. It was a very hot spring and summer here this year but I watered when needed. They get sun all day til late afternoon. They have always grown in this spot for years and I do thin out every 3 years or so. Why the bulbs on top instead of blooms and why on top instead of underground?
Asiatic lily
Did the little bulbs look like this?https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Lilium_lancifolium_003.JPG
No. They are in a round cluster of bulbs of about 8 right on the very top of the stalk. They are dark light the ones in your photo but with some tinge of green
Are you able to post a photo?
Here is a photo showing the top of lily taken from above. And it gets weirder - I took the little bulbs off and each one is rooted and has a leaf sprouted! As is the lily is growing 10 or more little lilies out of the top of the stalk! I am going to plant them and see what happens next year.
This message was edited Sep 3, 2015 11:48 AM
Those are bulbils, the same as in the photo I posted in my initial reply. Bulbils occur on Lilium lancifolium, tiger lily, and in the various Asiatic hybrids that are derived, in part, from that species. And what you describe is exactly what bulbils do... they normally occur in the leaf axils (where leaves join the stem) and fall off, produce roots, and start new plants, which are clones of the original plant. So, completely normal for the type of Asiatic hybrid lily you have...
The only thing unusual is that they are clustered at the top of the plant (whereas they are usually along the stem in the leaf axils). I can only guess that the conditions this year somehow did not allow most buds to form, but that the plant compensated by forming bulbils, albeit in an odd place. I can see in the second photo (upper right corner) that there was a couple of normal blooms (from the pistils visible in the photo) but that is strange.
The pistil you see was on an Oriental and I do have Tigers so I have seen the bulbils before. I have all my lilies in one bed except the Tigers. I have had these particular Asiatics for 15 plus years and have never seen this before! Obviously in 15 years we have had various kinds of weather and this has never happened. I do agree that this is strange and thank you for your help. If you come up with any other info I would be very interested! Again Thanks!!
Post a Reply to this Thread
More Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener Threads
-
Propagating perennials in Florida in the winter then planting in Zone 6b in Spring
started by Annenor
last post by AnnenorNov 15, 20230Nov 15, 2023 -
Help with identifying issue with my snake plants
started by Almair
last post by AlmairDec 31, 20231Dec 31, 2023 -
Moving Iris Tubers
started by cactusgem
last post by cactusgemJan 01, 20240Jan 01, 2024 -
Some kind of Lily?
started by birdwatchbeth
last post by birdwatchbethMar 09, 20243Mar 09, 2024 -
ID on sunflower with tree trunk?
started by grocoseeds
last post by grocoseedsMay 19, 20241May 19, 2024