Puzzling new shoots round Madonna lilies

SueAtoo

Because I'm moving I dug up my Madonna lilies . Low down there are about 5 lovely big bulbs in a clump - should I split them apart, I've just potted them as they are for the time being? But more oddly, there are lots of shoots appearing to come from the mat of roots which was above the bulbs, which have presumably come from the stems in last or previous years, but don't seem to have bulbs. The clump is about 40cm across and I'm tempted to just plant the clump to see what happens. Do you agree?

Fairygirl

Those are just the new shoots. I'd just pot them for now, and split after they've finished flowering - when you've moved.

SueAtoo

Thanks Fairygirl, was just puzzled as they seem to be coming from the roots not the bulbs.

Pete.8

I've not had Madonna lilies for many years, but I've never seen shoots coming from the roots themselves. They do produce bulblets around the main bulb, but not from the roots.
I think the mat of roots n shoots is from something else.
I have a type of Fringed willowherb - Epilobium ciliatum that looks similar

Fairygirl

They'll be fine. You could probably divide them and pot up now, as they do look quite congested ,and quite big. Depends how you feel about doing it. 
Generally speaking, clumps of lilies can benefit from being divided. Gives you more clumps to spread around too.
Like Irises and Crocosmias, they can sometimes lose their vigour in the middle of the clumps. Potted lilies multiply very quickly, so they need splitting and grown on even more often. 

SueAtoo

Thank you all, I'll pot them up and then they've got 2 chances. The bulbs should be fine anyway. Such beautiful lilies. Am going into rented accommodation for 2 months between houses so friends are going to take care of everything I'm taking. far too much, may have to be ruthless. 

Fairygirl

Good point @Pete.8. I was assuming there was bulbs in there. It does seen early for any growth, but I'm always aware that everything's much later here to get going. 

You'll have to wait and see what comes away @SueAtoo - a 'buy one get one free' scenario perhaps! 

SueAtoo

I've never seen any willowherb in that area but I'll just have to wait and see. Brambles and ground elder in that area so hope it's not them, will keep quarantined in case.

Joyce Goldenlily

SueAtoo said:

I've never seen any willowherb in that area but I'll just have to wait and see. Brambles and ground elder in that area so hope it's not them, will keep quarantined in case.

When lilies have grown in the same place for a long time they can develop bulbils from nodules on the mature roots and underground stems. I am sure you have a nursery of baby lily bulbs. I think you will have to wait a good few years for them to reach flowering size.

SueAtoo

Thank you all. The "shoots" turned out to be Dicentra Formosa which I'm pleased about. I struggled today separating the madonna lily bulbs for replanting as the tops have now died back and they needed rescuing from their pot. Don't you just love the instructions to "just" dig up and separate the bulbs - easier said than done as the roots were a solid mass. Although I think they are madonna lilies, I was puzzled by one site that said they formed a rosette of leaves at the base - mine just came up as a rather phallic spear. The site also said to plant just below the surface, hope I haven't planted too deep.

Lyn

Depends what type of lily you grow,  the ones I have need to be planted 6” deep.