I always have a list of things to do in my garden and top on my list is Torch Lilies Thinning Out. I’ve been thinking about this project for a long time. So, I finally started it, but it is no small garden task.
More Info. on Growing the Lilies
Torch Lilies are also known as Red Hot Poker plants or African Flame Flowers. They thrive in well-drained soil and full sun. There are a perennial and their native habitat is South Africa.
They bloom in the summer with tall show-stopping flowering spikes. The flowers are a combination of red, orange, and light yellow; pretty much like the color of a real flame. Bees, insects and butterflies like the blooms. Torch Lilies don’t seem to be troubled by insects or other problems and are hardy growers.
Invasive Species?
For all their good points, they do have one bad point, in that they tend to “overgrow” the area. I had my small patch of torch lilies for years on the shady side of the house. When they were big enough, I separated them in to three clump plants to thin them out a bit.
When I cleaned and cleared up the side of the house, I replanted them in the front flower bed which receives full sun.
Torch Lilies Thinning Out
Fast forward to today’s date, now with about ten large clumps of torch lilies thinning is needed. I have two large sedums which are totally obscured by the slowly advancing torch lilies. The sedums are getting ready to bloom, so I want to see them. The overgrowth of torch lilies happened over the last four or five years.
In California and Oregon, torch lilies are actually on the invasive plant list.
Although the flowering torch plants are a mass of bright colors, it is just too much of a good thing.
I’ve had help digging up a few of the large clumps, it immediately looks so much better. However, there is more to be done.
So, what to do with the clumps I took out? As my Readers know, I never toss out good books or plants, that is not Farmhouse Magic Blog’s way. So, I placed three cardboard boxes of the plants in front of my house with a free sign. Then, I got the boxes down to one, when I cut off the tops and took them to a park for their plant sale. The gardener there, broke the clumps down into individual plants. She replanted them in small plastic crocks for sale. She ended up with a bunch of plants, so I hope people buy them so they can make a little money.
The below photograph shows how one clump of Flame Lilies turned into several clumps.
Ending Notes on Torch Lilies Thinning Out Blog
Not sure if I am going to keep any of the torch lilies because they spread too quickly, and I’m getting a little tired of thinning them out.
But for now, I’m thinking of something new to plant in that area that will be shorter than the sedums.
I want a small mounding plant which doesn’t spread, lots of blooms, and green the year through. Let’s see what I come up with.
Resource Sites: www.thespruce.com