Lilium 'Tiny Massive' 

Flower Field, Flower Dome

Lilies come in arrays of flowers, colours, shapes and sizes. The ones we commonly see in the market come from cut flower crops; fragrant, usually with three or up to ten or more flowers buds per stalk.

Do you know the lilies sold in the market are not natural species but ornamental hybrids cultivated for the desired flower characteristics used in bouquets and floral displays. True lilies - those of the Lilium genus - comprise about 130 species and over 10,000 cultivated varieties and the larger lily family (Liliaceae).  The Lilium species grow from bulbs that look like a mix of garlic and onion, both of which come from the related Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), with leeks and chives being distantly related. 

It would be almost impossible to cultivate lilies from bulbs into flowering plants in Singapore, due to their growth needs of lower temperature. Most Asiatic lilies require daytime temperatures of 18° - 24°. Lilies also must go through a period of cold before breaking dormancy for spring growth, after which cooler soil temperatures must be maintained to encourage root growth and bulb establishment.

Coolhouses, such as our cooled production houses at Gardens by the Bay, kept around 18-24°C, allow us to grow lilies from bulbs to flowering plants, so we can display a beautiful diversity of lily flowers from different cultivars. 

It is worth noting that the larger the bulb, the stronger the flower stalk and more flowers are produced. Though the number of buds per stalk varies from 4-12 between different varieties, the general rule is larger bulbs produce more flowers per stem. Although bulb size plays an important role in flower production, observations indicate that freshly harvested bulbs tend to produce healthier and more robust lily plants.

Each bulb produces only a single flower stem with multiple flower buds. Usually, the lowest, oldest buds are the first to bloom, with younger buds opening successively one after the other. Thus a lily stalk with few or no open flowers and many buds will take longer to fully open, giving you a longer bloom period – a handy fact to know when you are choosing long lasting cut flowers for your flower arrangements at home!

Take note that all true lilies from the genus Lilium are toxic to animals, particularly cats. If you have pets at home, it is best to not display lilies at all or take care to prevent your pets from interacting with and eating any parts of the plant, even pollen or the water from a vase which has held lilies.

This time, the Lilytopia display introduces around 40 cultivated varieties of lilies. One of the highlights is Lilium ‘Tiny Massive’. As the name implies, it reaches an approximate 40cm height has a short compact form and bears many buds forming dense cluster of large and intense eye-catching blooms of black center with intense yellow tips. It is an Asiatic hybrid lily, which means it bears upward-facing, scentless flowers that grow out from a single point near the center from the stalk. This upright form of Asiatic lilies makes for an engaging display while its petite size are perfect as secondary tier planting.

As a hybrid cultivar, Asiatic lilies do not occur naturally in the wild. They were developed over many years by the 18^th century Dutch lily breeder Cornelius de Graaff, who crossed species native to East Asia.

Lilium ‘Tiny Massive’ takes center stage in this post as for its semblance to a ripening banana in various stages, even more so when the flowers are spent hanging off the main stalk. If you stand a distance away, the likeliness to over-ripe banana skin is endearing.

‘Tiny Massive’ is part of the Sensation series of genetically short, two-toned Asiatic lily varieties cultivated for potted plant display.  They have a compact, short stature as potted plants, and have desirable attributes like unique bi-coloured flowers and are scentless for sensitive people who may want to display these indoors. 

If the vibrant, contrasting colours of this small but gigantic lily are not to your taste, don't worry. There are plenty of other stunning lily varieties in bloom, and you're bound to find one that captivates you. Make a few return visits to Lilytopia in Flower Dome, running now through 27 September, to discover as many of our bold and beautiful lily cultivars as possible, including the many unique hybrids on display!

This article is part of our What's Blooming series.