Lily

'Shocking' is an attractive lily with brightly coloured flowers that are orange-red in the centre with a creamy yellow edge. Its rich fragrance is an added bonus. The upward facing blooms are great for adding to tropical themed planting schemes. They also last well as cut flowers. The bulbs are best planted in autumn while they are still plump. They should go in 2-3 times their own depth and at the equivalent spacing between bulbs. In the border, they enjoy well-drained soil in full sun, with shade at the base. Alternatively they can be planted in deep containers, using loam-based compost, such as John Innes No2.