My oriental lilies have spontaneously started giving double blooms
By Limaechopapa
Oxfordshire,
United Kingdom 
My oriental lilies have started giving double blooms!
I'm so confused. I have two pots of standard oriental lilies (both slightly different varieties) which have bloomed predictably for a couple of years. This year, however, both pots of lilies have generated double or even triple petals, and only 1 - 3 stamen per flower. Can anyone suggest why this might have happened?
I thought double-blooming orientals were artificially created and pollen free, so I'm a bit baffled as to why this has happened spontaneously!
9 Aug, 2015
Answers
You've won there - they are gorgeous!
9 Aug, 2015
Thanks Seaburngirl - I can definitely spot a few petals that are deformed (half stamen half petal!) so you're probably right about it being a genetic glitch. I'm just so baffled that it's happened to both pots!
Ah well, just another mystery. On the plus side, they are looking pretty stunning, and as heavily scented as ever. :) Fingers crossed I still manage to get a bit of seed from them - my first attempt at delayed hypogeal germination with last year's seed resulted in about a dozen seedlings, so I'm getting rather excited about having a very, very lily-filled garden in the next couple of years...!
10 Aug, 2015
Previous question
« Hi members I'm wanting something I can put in 400mm deep pots what will grow...
Next question
if the number of stamens is less then perhaps they developed into petals due to a genetic glitch. I would enjoy them this year, they will probably be normal next year.
9 Aug, 2015