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What Makes Ditch Lillies A Controversial Plant
By PEG ALOI
As beloved as ditch lilies are to some people, many gardeners consider them invasive and problematic because they spread widely and can be difficult to eradicate.
Ditch lilies spread from their rhizomes and by long trailing roots extending from their clumps. In the wild, they displace native perennials, and pollinators don’t like them.
Since they're tolerant of poor soil, they can form hard clumps in clay soil, making it hard to dig or divide them. Like other lilies, ditch lilies are also toxic to cats.
They are controversial plants because they also have benefits. Their clumps suppress weeds, and since they can grow in rocky soil, their roots can prevent erosion on slopes.
They can tolerate drought or abundant water, and even though they don't form flowers or bloom without sun, the clumps of leaves can grow and continue to spread even in full shade.