​Ixiolirion

( ik - see - oh - LEER - ee - on )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes perennials that grow from bulb need full sun and moderate water during their growth and blooming periods. Ixiolirion is commonly known as Siberian Lily or Lavendure Mountain Lily. They form flower spikes that hold loose clusters of violet-blue flowers in late spring. Leaves are gray-green and narrow. Petals are marked with a dark central line, and stems reach 12-16 inches in height. Foliage will die back in summer and reappear the following spring. These plants grow best in zones 2-3 (with shelter), 4-11 and 14-21. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map. The genus Ixiolirion is the sole member of the plant family Ixioliriaceae (previously Amaryllidaceae) and includes 4 species. 

Caring for Ixiolirion

These bulbs can be planted in fall, set 3-5 inches deep under the soil surface and 3-6 inches apart. Bulbs can remain in place in the ground for many years undisturbed. They grow best in full sun; ideally, these plants should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best flowering and performance. If they are grown in too much shade, they can become leggy and not flower well. Ensure that soil is nutrient-rich, well-draining, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted bulbs regularly to help them develop strong root systems. At maturity, these plants are drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone with some supplemental waterings in the warmest months of the year. The bulbs can take some summer moisture but do not need any to survive their dormancy. Mulch around the planting area with a 1-2 inch thick layer to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Remove spent flowering spikes as they fade to neaten up the appearance of these plants, unless you will be saving seed for propagation. When the plants become too crowded (they will begin to decline in health), dig and divide in autumn. For instructions on how to dig up and divide Ixiolirion plants, see the propagation section below.

Propagation

Ixiolirion can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Ixiolirion plants, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Ixiolirion by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Ixiolirion by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Problems and Pests

Ixiolirion has no serious pest or disease issues. For information on commonly-encountered pests and diseases in the home garden, consult the following pages:

Gallery

Ixiolirion bulbs are quite small.
Flowers bloom in late springtime.
These plants can grow in harsh conditions, and are considered drought-tolerant.
Ixiolirion should be grown in low- or no-irrigation beds.
Flowers can range in color from lavender to violet.
Ixiolirion can be grown either in the ground or in pots.

Videos

An introduction to the Siberian Lily.

Resources

Ixiolirion tataricum (Ixiolirion, Lavendure Mountain Lily, Siberian Lily)
Wikipedia: Ixiolirion
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 383, Ixiolirion tataricum
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