Lilies, anyone?

[RickR]

Lilium formosanum is a species not thought to be generally hardy in USDA zone 4, but certain ones are, and I assume that provenance is involved.  The species type can be very tall, often reaching more than 6 ft., and sometimes requires staking, at least in the U.S.  Compared to most lilies, it is more susceptible to viruses, but grows quickly from seed.  (Lily seeds do not carry virus, even if they are produced by an infected plant.)

Lilium formosanum var. pricei is a dwarf variety from higher altitudes (but still low elevation in alpine terms) and grows only 1-2 ft.    These pictured are 12 inch beauties:

        

[RickR]

        Lilium papilliferum       16 Jul 2011

          

[Lori S.]

L. formosanum and papilliferum are gorgeous, Rick!  I don't think I've even heard of the latter.

[McDonough]

L. formosanum and papilliferum are gorgeous, Rick!  I don't think I've even heard of the latter.

Rick, I will second this motion, both are stunning.  Now, I do grow L. formosanum var. pricei, not long lived at all and seems monocarpic, but I've had it blooming in the garden for many years from self-sown seedlings and MMcD-assisted-disseminated seed.  It is rarely over a foot tall, sometimes to about 16", but it is typically just one or two stalks, never making a fine grassy clump like yours.  The flowers on mine show dark red striping on the backs, not as fine a white flowers as in yours. My guess is there is more than one form of this going around; I like your form much better than what I grow.  And yes, lily beetles do go after it somewhat, but they don't seem to be as much a magnet for their attacks as are Fritillaria species.

[Hoy]

Do you try to spellbind me, Rick?
Now I am bound to try more lilies

[RickR]

The very possible (probable?) monocarpic trait of L. formosanum var. pricei is well known, but I am guessing it may be at least somewhat dependent on how the plants grow: too vigorous and the monocarpic tendency grows with it.  These particular ones I have pictured are ridiculously slow growing for the species.  I have grown them deliberately twice from seed, and while I admit I am not the best caretaker of my flora, the first seedlings take three seasons to flower, and the rest four!  In fact, I have never had more than one flower per stalk. 

The clump pictured is not a single plant, nor from a single plant.   There are at least as many genetically different bulbs as there is flowers, and it is the result of a pot of seedlings plunked undivided in the ground.  This particular clump has been blooming for five years, although I can't say if any of the bulbs have died a natural death, and replaced by other bulbs-in-waiting.

[Hoy]

When does the clump of formosanum flower?

[RickR]

Lilium formosanum var. pricei blooms in mid July for me.  Considerably earlier than the species type.

[stephenb]

The many times I've tried this one it's proven to be premonocarpic; i.e., it dies before it gets a  chance to flower 

[McDonough]

Lilium formosanum var. pricei blooms in mid July for me.  Considerably earlier than the species type.

Just checked my past photos, typically it blooms in early July here, but last year with an unusually early spring, it bloomed late June.  Here's a photo taken 06-26-2011.  Stephen, my guess is you don't get much seed on your premonocarpic form

[RickR]

Lilium rosthornii is closely related to Lilium henryi.  The type of clone I have is somewhat common, where the petal edges are whitish, and the young buds are white before turning orange and then opening.  In the photo the white bud is actually the youngest and smallest, but appears larger because of its proximity to the camera lens.  The bicolor effect of buds and flowers is very pleasing.

        

This species is where the "blackheart" characteristic of aurelian hybrid lilies originate.  Mine, however, has a green heart:

              

[Hoy]

Rick, my plants are still in bud! It is one of the latest lilies to flower for me.

[RickR]

I just dug Lilium szovitsianum, and unlike most species lilies, these bulbs are big!  The photo shows two bulbs from the one plant, grown from a two year old,  dinky seedling I bought in 2004.  The lily had been sending up two shoots for several years.  I was pleased to find that many new roots had initiated at the base of the bulbs, and are about a centimeter long.
 
It was surprising that the top of the bulb was only about 3cm below the surface.   Is this normal?  Perhaps it is because it grows in rich clay soil, rather than sandy soil?
 
Any thoughts are appreciated...

Lilium szovitsianum bulbs

               

[RickR]

Regarding the depth in the soil of the L. szovitsianum bulb, I've been asking around and have found from a couple experienced growers that they are usually very deeply set in the ground.  One, who gardens in northern Canada has multiple 3 inch diameter bulbs that have naturally pulled themselves at least 6 inches down.

[Hoy]

I have experienced surfacing lily bulbs but the reason was crowding. When I started digging I found layers of bulbs about a foot deep. They had had no space sideways and had gone up instead.