Lilium ‘Double Asiatic Red Twin’

We’ve been impressed with ‘Red Twin’ on the nursery; it’s a proper show-stopper. The flowers are a deep, velvety red and have a lovely double form, with a smaller set of petals nestled inside the larger ones. It’s an Asiatic type, which means it flowers a bit earlier than some other lilies, typically from early to mid-summer. And a huge bonus for many is that it’s completely pollen-free.

This lily grows on strong, upright stems, reaching about 1 to 1.2 metres tall when it’s established. It prefers a spot in full sun or just a little partial shade. Like most lilies, the most important thing is well-drained soil; they really don’t like to sit in wet ground, especially over winter. It will handle most soil types, from acidic to alkaline, as long as the drainage is sorted.

To get the best from them, plant the bulbs about 15cm deep. A bit of grit mixed into the planting hole is a good idea if your soil is heavy. Once the flowers have faded, just remove the spent blooms but leave the stems and leaves to die back naturally. This feeds the bulb for next year’s display. It’s a great choice for adding a splash of intense colour to the middle of a border or for a dramatic display in a container.