Lilies, anyone?

A very nice one, Lori.  A little bit similar to a very old  martagon section cultivar, Mrs. R.O. Backhouse.  A cross of Lilium martagon and the yellow Lilium hansonii, it is still one of my all time favorite lilies.  

          21 Jun 2011
       

I have recently come out of the dark ages from a dial up connection to DSL, my only other option (unless I am willing to pay $700+/year).  Still, a huge difference as with dial up even the thumbnails didn't always fully load.  So I have been going through my many lily pics in preparation for such a thread as this, and since Lori has started the topic of same, there's no better time than the present to begin.

In my garden, this is the first year ever that a martagon lily has beat out my Lilium szovitsianum for the coveted "first bloom of the year award" - by two days.  First to bloom were two martagons grown from seed, nicely spotted pink ones, although nothing spectacular about them. Then came Lilium szovitsianum. First bloomed in 2008 its seventh year from seed, it is usually a reliable performer, despite the fact that it grows in full sun through the hot humid summers here. But this season's 100 F temps in June produced some super compacted flower spikes that were not very comely, although flowers were normal.  From year 2010:

It doesn't show too well in the photos, but the foliage is decidedly unlily-like in the traditional sense.  So much so that when a learned friend came over and saw the one foot sprouts, he exclaimed "What is that?"

          16 May 2011                                  May 2010
       

The maroon accents at the base and end of each petal is quite fetching.

          Jun 2009                                      30 May 2010
       

RickR wrote:

I have recently come out of the dark ages from a dial up connection to DSL, my only other option (unless I am willing to pay $700+/year).  Still, a huge difference as with dial up even the thumbnails didn't always fully load.  So I have been going through my many lily pics in preparation for such a thread as this, and since Lori has started the topic of same, there's no better time than the present to begin.

Excellent news, Rick!  We await your postings with bated breath.  :)

More martagon seedlings.  This is one that beat out szovitsianum for first bloom of the season:

                        1 Jun 2011
             

Other nice variations.  Notice the bit of "nectary" marking on the second one.

              30 Jun 2011                                9 Jun 2011
       

Most lilies are self infertile, including martagons.  So to obtain Lilium martagon var. album seed (for instance), one must cross too genetically different plants of that same variety.  Most gardeners don't seem to realize this.  Consequently much of the seed in seed exchanges for var. album is really martagon album x martagon not album, because most gardeners don't have two different Lilium martagon var. album, and/or don't bother to hand pollinate.  I have tried three different batches of seed of supposedly Lilium martagon var. album, and none have yielded the true variety.  I do come up with some nice crosses, though:

                        25 Jun 2011
             

             25 Jun 2011                               25 Jun 2011
       

              20 Jun 2011                              20 Jun 2011
       

I do have one nice white seedling, but I know that its was produced from crossing a white martagon with a gold.

                        27 Jun 2011
             

Hi Rick,
Thought you might be interested to see these two images captured in the Dolomites in July this year of the only example of a white Lilium martagon we have ever seen on our numerous visits?

Yes, thank you Cliff.  And a very tight inflorescense.  Is that predominant among all the martagons in the Dolomites?

A few more...
A form of Lilium martagon with very furry buds and small (~3cm across), highly recurved flowers:
   

Lilium martagon 'Album'... not, unfortunately, in such a beautiful setting as Cliff's!  :)

Lilium xdalhansonii:
 

L. martagon 'Pink Attraction':
   

Unknown martagon that was ravaged by lily beetles this spring, yet somehow managed to bloom a little... any thoughts on which it is?

L. martagon 'Early Bird':
   

L. martagon 'Amelita':

Sorry I did not realise there was a lily thread when I posted my photographs in the bulb section. Lori and Rick some truly outstanding forms of martagon.

Here is my Lilium martagon ssp cattaniae from Greece. The lily foliage on the left is L. chalcedonicum before it moved into bud

No matter, Tony.  (I forgot that there were some lily photos in the other thread... I could/should have posted there but no worries either way.  :) )

Tony wrote:

Here is my Lilium martagon ssp cattaniae from Greece.

That is absolutely fabulous!! What a colour!  Ssp. cattaniae has very furry buds, doesn't it?

Lori

yes ssp cattaniae does have very furry buds which are quite fascinating as they develop. I collected the plants as single scales on Mt Falackro in NE Greece and have since done the same thing on Mt Kymachalan further west but these have yet to flower.

How long does it take from scaling a bulb to blooming size?

No time to respond, except to say that I'M REALLY ENJOYING THESE MARVELOUS LILIES, they're all so gorgeous.  I have such a problem with lily beetle, that I stopped considering the genus, but a friend tells me that the summer blooming species like L. martagon are less bothered by the pests, is that true?

So far, in my limited experience with lily beetles (which is only over 3 years now... and already I hate them with a passion!), it seems they are somewhat less attracted to martagons than to asiatic hybrids.  However, I'm sure someone with experience local to your zone/area will be able to give some more relevant commentary.

Lori, that small furry bud martagon has some really narrow foliage for a martagon.  Love the diversity.  All of my martagons have wider leaves to some degree.  This one has the "best" foliage:

                        27 Jun 2011
             

Tony, your subspecies cattaniae are very special (and beautiful!).  What time of year did you harvest scales?

Mark, martagons may be summer blooming, but they are in general among the earliest of the genus.  Don't let the timing of this thread mess you up: while Lori's martagons might be concurrent, mine are not (and are long gone).  I've edited dates in for my previous photos. 

The lily beetle has not arrived in Minnesota ... yet.

Rick

I collected the scales the first week in May which is when I know I was in Greece and can therefore be accurate about the timing.

However below are two martagons I purchased late November last year and before planting I took some scales of the bulbs and have got new plants from them.

I do not think it matters when you do it ,just when the material is available and the only difference is the time when the new bulbil produces its first leaf.

The 'albiflorum' is not one I was really taken with but the 'red russian' is really beautiful.

I also have Lilium polyphyllum which I grew from seed. This flowered for the first time this year and appears to have set seed.

I have read that with certain species, timing is import for successful scaling: L. szovitsianum to be exact, which is why I ask.  Supposedly, scales removed in the fall yielded no bulblets, while those taken in summer, especially right after bloom, produced many bulblets.

Nice photos.  I have seen pics of albiflorum with fewer spots, and I think I like those better, although yours is nothing to scoff at!  Lilium polyphyllum is indeed a great find! (And from seed, too. Congratulations!)

More martagon cultivars:

Claude Shride (a Minnesota introduction) usually has a few spots on each flower.  I must have twenty bulbs of this vigorous clone, and this year none have spots at all!

              16 Jun 2011
       

Also this year, the white striping on the back is very prominent.  I noticed this on one of your lilies, too, Lori.

Terrace City
                     23 Jun 2011
       

Lilium taliense "var. kaichen"
I only have one and the species is self infertile.  I hand pollenated almost every flower with pollen from various species and hybrids, but the only pollen it has accepted to date is Lilium lijiangense and Lilium duchartrei.

                     24 Jun 2011
             

              2 Jul 2011
       

Rick

I have never grown any of the Turkish lilies or indeed on my nineteen trips there actually seen one in the wild always being too early and therefore have no experience with scaling them. I hope to start growing some in the near future.

The Claude Schride is very nice and from your pictures appears to be very close to Red Russian which in the flesh is stunning.

I have a number of the Chinese ones coming on that I have imported and on the whole the names are wrong and since most have not flowered yet I do not have an identification.

I love the pics, everyone. Now I'm dying to try some martagons. I only have a few common varieties so far.

The beautiful, but always slightly incongruous, Lilium bulbiferum thriving at Val Gardena in the Dolomites. July 2011.

Beautiful indeed!  It does seem slightly incongruous to see a lily up there... but my viewpoint is of only one native lily (L. philadelphicum), that tends to inhabit the mixed forest edge.

killdawabbit wrote:

I love the pics, everyone. Now I'm dying to try some martagons. I only have a few common varieties so far.

I fully agree with your first statement. However, your second is wrong: It is not me but my lilies which are dying :'( . . not beetles but slugs.

Lilium distichum

From Korea and nearby China, this is the area where the four other Lily species (besides L. martagon) that make up the martagon section of the genus grow.  Even as species lilies, most are fairly rare in cultivation.  I have found L. distichum easy to grow, but I would venture that to most people it's not the prettiest lily around.  I only have one clone blooming, so I can't make blanket assessments of the species, but on this one, I really like the black stems, and stark white ovary.  Like L. tsingtauense, the petals possess the deepest saturation of orange, and at least on this L. distichum, the petals are even glossier.

                          25 Jun 2011
             

This is what many (at least in the U.S.) think of as Lilium tsingtauense.  It's ancestry dates back to the early collections of lilies in Korea and/or nearby parts of China.  But actually, these photos are of a natural cross of Lilium tsingtauense and Lilium distichum (and/or Lilium medeoloides). Lilium tsingtauense bears completely upfacing flowers and ruffly foliage. Ll. distichum and medeoloides have outfacing flowers and leaves without rippling.

There are some that label this a separate species, L. miquelianum, but it is generally not an accepted name.  However I do use the designation for simplicity's sake, as a shorthand for the uncertain cross.

              16 May 2011
       

                                                      Late May 2009
       

How the petals radiate seems dependent on the position relative to gravity. These are the two extremes:

                28 Jun 2011
       

This natural hybrid has the undesirable characteristic of skipping a season of growth for whatever reason.  Last year, I thought my clump was dwindling, since it only had four stems in 2010.  When I dug them that fall, I discovered many bulbs had just taken the year off, and were as healthy as could be.  Now I have quite a few...

Rick thanks for a most interesting post.

I am growing Lilium tsingtauense from scales which came from a recent importation and so I have some way to go before I see it flower. I must confess I am not at all keen on upward facing lilies but it was offered and I thought I would give it a go.

As to L. distichum I saw this at the Tatton Park Flower Show last year and it was superb,brick red outward facing perfectly formed flowers and I have now obtained what I think is hopefully a plant from China. This produced a rosette of leaves and has no died down.

You mention the hybrid skipping a season and in fact my L. gloriosoides has not put any growth above ground for three seasons. It is a beautiful healthy bulb and makes new roots each year. I am going to keep it frost free over the coming winter and see if this will bring it into growth.

Here are two pictures of my second L. poilanei in flower. I am working hard on getting seed.

I very much enjoy your Lilium poilanei.  I wouldn't be surprised if it would be hardy for you outside, if you can keep it dry enough.  Not that you should try... I'm just sayin'.

My L. distichum does have a hint of red in it.  I will be transplanting it to a not full sun area this fall.  Perhaps then it will show deeper color.  I, too, much prefer the out and down facing flower orientation over upfacing.  But a bit of a mix is nice, especially if they are species.  

Tony wrote:

You mention the hybrid skipping a season and in fact my L. gloriosoides has not put any growth above ground for three seasons. It is a beautiful healthy bulb and makes new roots each year. I am going to keep it frost free over the coming winter and see if this will bring it into growth.

This is good to know!  I have two tiny bulblets from seed (germinated this past winter) of var. gloriosoides.  I hope they don't exhibit that trait early in life...
We will all be interested to see if you find the trigger for seasonal growth.  I follow everything Lilium on the SRGC forum, too.

Years ago, I received a bulb of Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides from Chen Yi.  The bloom was the highlight of the year.  I tried to overwinter the bulb in the pot in the refrigerator, but was unsuccessful.

                Sept 2007
       

Next to flower this year is Lilium concolor.  Variety coridion consistently blooms at least a few days earlier than variety strictum for me, but there is always overlap.  Both are small flowered (3 inches) and very narrow growing plants, although strictum is even more narrow.  There can never be the excuse for "no room in the garden" for these.  They will fit anywhere, are are easy from seed, and bloom in the second year.  Red-orange is the "normal" color for the species, spotted or unspotted.  The nubs on the petal ends seem to be a trait of the species.

Lilium concolor var. coridion           7 Jul 2001
       

Lilium concolor var. strictum              12 Jul 2011
                   

Oops, I neglected Ll. duchartrei and lankongense  :rolleyes:. They began blooming the first few days of July.  Both are similar to L. fargesii in that these species can easily bloom with small, 2-3 inch flowers or larger 4+ inch flowers, depending on the vigor and/or siting of the plant.  (My first bloom ever of L. fargesii was only one inch wide.  Now they bloom more than double that size.)

Lilium duchartrei.  When in bud, the white is almost as saturated as in the Madonna lily (L. candidum).  I have one that has a bronze/maroon coloring at the base and tips of the petals (similar to Caucasian lilies), mostly visible in bud, and two with green coloring.

              Lilium duchartrei - (green coloring)
       

              Lilium lankongense

A couple flowering in the garden here at the moment:

1) Lilium callosum
2) Lilium lancifolium flaviflorum with Mondarda didyma "Adam" and Monarda fistulosum v. menthifolia

Stephen, a wonderful Lilium callosum, indeed!

I have seedlings of the species, from seed collected in Russian Far East: Kedrovaja Padj.  Planted in 2009, the seeds sprouted within 15 days and seemed fairly weak, producing only one long leaf per seedling.  The 2010 season showed a few leaves per plant. But now in 2011, they have exploded in growth.  Had I known of this ensuing growth, I would have transplanted them into bigger pots! 

But early in the year I was becoming very disappointed, since the stems seemed to closely resemble L. concolor var. strictum.  I figured the seed identity had gotten mixed up.  Even as tiny buds began to appear on these little plants, I was not impressed. Blooming at this size is not unusual for the concolor species.  But as the buds began to tip and take their natural pendant position, my heart was lifted.  Yes, these are in fact the real thing!

It should be noted that these pics are not very indicative of the true species habit.  Eleven of them are growing in a small 3.5 x 3.5 x 5 inch pot.  Surely, this is not normal!  That would be Stephen's photo above.  (Thanks for posting, Stephen.)

  Lilium callosum seedlings

          10 Jul 2011                                          16 Jul 2011
           

I received Lilium maculatum var. wilsonii in 2006 as bulbs from the SLPG (Species Lily Preservation Group).  It is an upfacing lily with very shiny foliage.  It has been used in breeding for this characteristic as well as its flower traits, and has yielded very good cultivars.  

         Lilium maculatum var. wilsonii   12 Jul 2011

One of our native lilies in Minnesota is Lilium michiganense.  Flowers are arranged in one (usually) or two umbels.  Unlike most lily species with umbel inflorescenses, L. michiganense produces varying lengths of pedicels in the same umbel.  Also normal is a non-uniform degree of pedicel ascension.  But whatever the angle of the pedicel, the flower is always held with the same aspect, even on single flowering stems.  In the 90 degree days, growth moves along rather quickly...

      Lilium michiganense     15 Jul 2011         16 Jul 2011

                    17 Jul 2011

Beautiful!  And how observant you are, too!  How many lily species are native there?  (We, of course, are rather impoverished here with only one.)

One is still better than nil ;) Although you can sometimes find lilies as garden escapes here none are native.

If those gastropods hadn't existed I had grown more lilies ;D

Rick

the L. michiganense is a super plant. I managed to flower it for the first time here this year but it was only single flowers,so I hope for better next year.

Wow, this is a great thread.  Thanks Rick and other Liliphiles, I've learned so much looking through the many posts; I realize how little I know about the genus, what elegant treasures the genus holds.  Never heard of L. callosum, and a delightful thing it is.  We probably take for granted our many North American Lilium species, with the focus on Asiatic ones instead, but seeing natives such as Lilium michiganense demonstrates that are some supremely beautiful species in N.A.

The Flora of North America describes 21 species (lumping many of the varieties or subspecies previously named), with a lengthy discussion of the genus; apparently the taxonomy is complex.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=118558

Mark

you have some really wonderful ones. Our trip this year was in part to hopefully see some of them and we were very kindly supplied with lots of sites by Gene Miro one of your great experts. Although we found lots of plants the late season meant we were much too early to see them in flower. We did however see some lovely Lilium rubescens in the redwoods on I101 in N. California. I also show an unusual form which was growing with the others.

We have two Minnesota native lilies:
--- Lilium michiganense
--- Lilium philadelphicum

Minnesota consists of 3 major biomes: prairie grasslands, deciduous woods and coniferous forests.  Both of these species have found niches in all three biomes.

non-native Lilium lancifolium might be found as garden remnants at old farmsteads where the buildings are long gone, but I have never seen them actually escape into the wild.

My latest batch of L. michiganense from seed began blooming this year.  I have to say, though, that while I try to be fastidious about record keeping, I'm not so much with plant care.  I had hand pollinated this seed lot from wild sourced plants.  Seed was planted very late: 26 Jan 2008 (inside), put in the refrigerator 23 April 2008, and placed outside in July for its first season of above ground growth.  The photo shows a new raised bed constructed last fall.  Until that time, I had ten seedlings crammed into two 3.5 x 3.5 x 5 inch (9x9x12.7cm) pots.  To my surprise, one plant even had two blooms!

Tony, rubescens is a nice species, and I have seen other pics of it with flowers that age darker, but never as much as the one you show.  Very nice! I tend to like flowers that age to a different color, and I presently have some Aurelian seedlings that do just that.  Even the more common Spiraea japonica 'Shibori' has a place in my yard.

Most western lilies species have germinated easily for me and I get them to the first leaf stage, but so far, none have continued in my climate.  I have never bought a western North American lily bulb to get a head start, though.  These have been on the back burner for a while now, as I focus on easier lily endeavors.

RickR wrote:

Tony, rubescens is a nice species, and I have seen other pics of it with flowers that age darker, but never as much as the one you show.  Very nice! I tend to like flowers that age to a different color, and I presently have some Aurelian seedlings that do just that.  Even the more common Spiraea japonica 'Shibori' has a place in my yard.

Most western lilies species have germinated easily for me and I get them to the first leaf stage, but so far, none have continued in my climate.  I have never bought a western North American lily bulb to get a head start, though.  These have been on the back burner for a while now, as I focus on easier lily endeavors.

Do you think any of the western lilies could do here?
I am very fascinated by lilies but as I have told slugs devour the plants as fast as I get them. At my summerhouse though they fare better. However there I have to watch for lily beetles >:( Still many lilies do very well there.

Hoy wrote:

Do you think any of the western lilies could do here?
I am very fascinated by lilies but as I have told slugs devour the plants as fast as I get them. At my summerhouse though they fare better. However there I have to watch for lily beetles >:( Still many lilies do very well there.

I don't think I can say.  I'm just not knowledgeable enough with these.  Many like a long dry summer, but cool and wet winter/spring.  L. columbianum (known to be more easily cultivated) seems to survive for certain people in the UK, and L. pardalinum likes wetter situations throughout the year, so...

Perhaps Gene Mirro will lend some advice here.

My last lily to bloom for the year,Lilium auratum in the garden growing through a rhododendron

Nice, Tony.  I didn't photograph my auratums this season, because I didn't think I could top the pictures I took in a previous year.  These are also from bulbs procured from the Species Lily Preservation Group:

          Lilium auratum

Lilium leichtlinii is one of the lily species that seems to have evolved in the wild growing up through underbrush.  Even when grown out in the open, the first foot of the stem is void of leaves, and then progresses to full leaf size at 2 feet.  The inflorescense structure shown is typical for the species.

    Lilium leichtlinii    17 July 2011

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:

        Lilium papilliferum      16 Jul 2011

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

Lori wrote:

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.

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

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.

When does the clump of formosanum flower?

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

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  ;)

RickR wrote:

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 ;)

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:

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

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

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.

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.

RickR wrote:

Hoy wrote:

Do you think any of the western lilies could do here?
I am very fascinated by lilies but as I have told slugs devour the plants as fast as I get them. At my summerhouse though they fare better. However there I have to watch for lily beetles >:( Still many lilies do very well there.

I don't think I can say.  I'm just not knowledgeable enough with these.  Many like a long dry summer, but cool and wet winter/spring.  L. columbianum (known to be more easily cultivated) seems to survive for certain people in the UK, and L. pardalinum likes wetter situations throughout the year, so...

Perhaps Gene Mirro will lend some advice here.

It is almost impossible to grow lilies with a slug infestation.  I kill them with metaldehyde bait.  They will even eat the bulbs, and you will not know until it is too late.  If you can't get bait, try copper sulphate.  That's what the oldtimers used.

If your winters are not too cold (no big freezes), NW native lilies will be happy.  Some NW lilies have snow cover all winter, but the soil does not get much below 0C (32F).  I have never tried to grow NW lilies in a very cold climate, so I don't know if it is possible.  But I am not optimistic.

If your summers are wet, the pardalinum group is the best choice.  You can also try maritimum, parryi, wigginsi, and parvum.  If you want to try the dryland lilies, I recommend building a bed of pure coarse sand at least 8 inches deep.  Never let lily soil get hot.  Mulch with wood chips, and grow companion plants that are not too competitive. Don't use plants that make basal rosettes, such as foxgloves, because they shelter slugs.  My favorite is Corydalis sempervirens.  It will reseed itself forever, but it is not hard to control.  Platycodon is also good, and reseeds in my garden.  Native lilies will grow in part shade, but they are much stronger in full sun, if you can keep the soil cool.

Everyone says that L. columbianum is easy, but I find that many of the bulbs rot in summer, even in Oregon.  Try growing them in sand.  The most difficult NW species in my opinion is bolanderi.  I have never gotten it to bloom.  I am trying again.  In nature, it grows in places that get very hot and dry in the summer, like the Siskiyou mountains.  And it is always growing through low brush (Manzanita), which keeps the soil shaded, cool, and dry.  It is a serpentine soil plant, but I believe it will grow in sandy or gravelly garden soil in the right conditions.

If you grow species lilies in a greenhouse, the big problem is high soil temperature in the pots.  The bulbs will rot in warm, wet mix.  It helps to plunge the pots and grow companion plants with the lilies, to keep the soil on the dry side.  Even so, you will sometimes find that the bulbs have rotted during the late summer when temperatures are highest.

If anyone wants some seed of true martagon album, let me know.  I also have lots of L. wigginsi seed.

Thank you very much, Gene!
I have slug bait but it is not very useful outside with lots of rain. I like to grow lilies (and other plants as well) in as natural settings as possible and it is impossible to keep all places slug-free.
The winters are usually mild with a few cold spells but the two last winters were very cold. However the soil did not freeze very deep.

I would like to try seed of martagon and wigginsi, please!

First flowering from seed --label lost  :rolleyes:

I suspect it's a North American sps --maybe L.columbianum ?.....although only the one flower on an arching pedicel.

Didn't notice the 'hitchhikers' until i was viewing the pic on the computer ---needless to say they have been dispatched .....

Cheers Dave

It does look like L. columbianum, assuming it has whorled leaves.  First flowers are not always the best to identify, but the large anthers and pedicel form also aid in a positive ID of the species.

Congratulations on growing it to flowering from seed, Roland.  Although easy to germinate, these western American species are difficult for me in my climate.  Except for L. pardilinum, I haven't been successful.

RickR wrote:

It does look like L. columbianum, assuming it has whorled leaves.  First flowers are not always the best to identify, but the large anthers and pedicel form also aid in a positive ID of the species.

Congratulations on growing it to flowering from seed, Roland.  Although easy to germinate, these western American species are difficult for me in my climate.  Except for L. pardilinum, I haven't been successful.

Thanks Rick
It has whorled leaves so my guess was correct.

A number of the Western N.A. sps do well here althought i'm still yet to master L.washingtonianum ....

Here's L.grayi currently in bloom .

Cheers Dave.

Here's another Lily in bloom --first flowering from seed NZAGS sown Aug 09 as L buchianum --the name a bit of a mystery to me--maybe it should be L buschianum ,(probably my spelling mistake originally-- :rolleyes:), which i see is a synonym of L.concolor var pulchellum ...

Cheers Dave.

Dave, L. grayi is a beauty! The second one, L. buschianum or whatever - is the flower zygorphic or a little damaged?

That lily does look like L. concolor, but var. pulchellum is not supposed to have spots.  I grow varieties strictum and coridion, and both have the characteristically short (for a Lilium) style.

I have yet to see a photo of Lilium grayi that wasn't to die for.  Yours is not exception, Dave.  It seems they are more "common" outside the USA!  Peter Zale is still looking for a verifiable wild source of seed for this species for the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center on the Ohio State campus.  If anyone can help, send me a message/email and I can give you his contact info.

Hoy wrote:

Dave, L. grayi is a beauty! The second one, L. buschianum or whatever - is the flower zygorphic or a little damaged?

Thanks Hoy

Damaged i think.

RickR wrote:

That lily does look like L. concolor, but var. pulchellum is not supposed to have spots.  I grow varieties strictum and coridion, and both have the characteristically short (for a Lilium) style.

I have yet to see a photo of Lilium grayi that wasn't to die for.  Yours is not exception, Dave.  It seems they are more "common" outside the USA!

Hello Rick
L.concolor it is then  :)   although I thought var. pulchellum could have a faint spotting ,however whether my plant shown qualifies under that heading i'm uncertain :-\ ..........

I have a number of seedlings of L.concolor from other sources coming along --it will be interesting to compare 'notes' when they finally flower.

Cheers Dave.

Reaching about 1.2 mtrs in height Lilium monadelphum is so out of scale growing in the middle of one of the small rock gardens --each year about this time i remember i should get round to lifting the small clump...Later this year i will ,(i will !!)..... ;D ;D

Cheers Dave.

A stately species, Dave! I have tried it several times but never got it growing. The slugs attack the soft stem when it is about a foot high and the plant is damaged >:(

A most admirable specimen, Dave!

I have never liked hybrid roses much, and what do you think was my first full time job out of college: a greenhouse rose cutter.  I harvested the roses sold in florist shops.  Well, I did develop a liking for rosebuds, as being able to discern if a bud should be cut that morning or that afternoon was imperative. 

I have always liked buds of all kinds, and since then, even more their development stages.  Now that you have patiently waded through this talk of roses  :rolleyes:, here's the lily part:

Some lilies, Lilium monadelphum included, have very nice ornamental buds.  This is L. monadelphum var. szovitsianum (syn: L. szovitsianum).  From the looks of your flowers' backs, Dave, your buds would be far better.

Your buds aren't bad either, Rick  ;)

Hoy wrote:

Your buds aren't bad either, Rick  ;)

I thought so too Hoy --i think any difference could be to my cameras settings.

Here's a few more --a couple of unknown asiatic hybrids plus one which maybe is L.'Latvia' .

Lilium pardalinum.I used to have some nice clumps of this ....

Cheers Dave.

Lilium duchartrei

Cheers Dave.

Lovely stuff Dave.

Very nice, Dave. How many lilies do you have?

Good Day to All,

I'm Michael Loos, Interlaken, NY.  I've been a gardener for many years and recently re-upped with NARGS.  Just moved and bought a property in upstate, hopefully to have the place for the next 50 years.  I've been in communication with Rick about martagons and have a few other lily queries.

The lilies I've had have been left in the previous garden (Mom would miss them) and I'm buying a few in the next few weeks.  I'd like to scale them before they go into the ground.  I've twin-scaled Amaryllidaceae, but when is the best time to scale a true lily?  Spring?  Fall?  Does it matter species to species?  Does the type of germination for seed, epigeal vs hypogeal, correlate to timing for scaling?

On a more business-y note - where have you all been shopping?  I'm looking at B&D, and the Lily Garden for more uncommon hybrid selections.  Are there any places that actually have bulbs of the rarer species?  (Brent and Becky's has a few.) Would any of you have things to sell?  I'll be working with the upcoming second round seed distribution.  Perhaps there will be a thing or two available.

This is a good thread.  I've been enjoying (read: lusting after) the pictures.  There is great commentary and information.  Fantastic stuff!

Thank you,

Michael
Zone 5, but this winter 7, so far.

Welcome aboard, Michael!

I have to admit that I had to look up twin scaling:
http://www.bulbsociety.org/About_Bulbs/BULB_BASICS/Twinscaling.html
Goodness, the potential multiplication of plants is mind boggling!  I've never tried it myself.  As a gardener, I would never have the need for such a population.

Twin-scaling certainly is a lot of cutting and wounding, presenting a myriad of entry points for disease.  As of yet, exactly sterile conditions is not something I am willing to fuss with, so I won't be doing it in the near future.  But don't let me stop you.  Twin scaling should work fine with lilies.  Most people just use whole scales, and sterile conditions are not so important.

The idea to include a tiny bit of basal plate is sound and advantageous, but usually not necessary.  Bulblets can be more plentiful and more precocious with a piece of basal plate.  In general, the closer to the basal plate that a scale is removed, the better potential for success.  Consequently, I try to remove individual scales with a small knife (cutting very close to or including the basal plate), rather than the unexacting method of breaking them off with fingers.  This concept is more important with less vigorous lilies, often species.  Hybrids seldom require such scrutiny.  I am not sure where the slower growing tetraploids fall in this respect.

Another thing one might investigate is that with lilies, the basal plate seems to be more susceptible to disease.  I am not sure if this is because it is at the bottom of the bulb where excess moisture might accumulate, or if it is inherent in the genetic make up.

Quote:

When is the best time to scale a true lily?  Does it matter species to species?

General consensus for timing is when the bulb is "dormant".  But I really think that is more a result of experience by convenience, rather than trial and error.  Few people dig lilies during their growing phase, and even fewer attempt scaling these.  

That said, I have come across one exception with Lilium monadelphum, and I suspect it might include its other allied Caucsian Lilium spp.  The study found that optimum bulblet production from scaling of L. monadelphum occurs right after flowering, and becomes less successful as the season progresses.  The study also found that scaling the species when dormant failed.  But, at least one anecdotal account (on the SRGC forum, I think) proved this not to be the case.  However, the degree of success was not mentioned.  I hope someone else will add to this conversation.

Quote:

Does the type of germination for seed, epigeal vs hypogeal, correlate to timing for scaling?

Regarding Lilium germination modes, again, I don't think this has been researched.  However, if you take the example of L. monadelphum above, it does not match the easy success of scaling observed with L. martagon, even though they both possess delayed hypogeal germination.

On the other hand, when the odd L. martagon seed germinates immediate hypogeal instead of the normal delayed hypogeal, the resulting plant is always more vigorous and precocious, and I would expect that to influence scaling success, too.

Quote:

Are there any places that actually have bulbs of the rarer species?

B&D, Brent and Becky's, The Lily Garden, The Lily Nook, Gardens North are all good reputable businesses.  Faraway Flowers, too, for more uncommon hybrids and some species.  Offerings vary greatly from year to year and fall to spring.  The owner has strong ties to England.  And Michael, you will have a fun time checking out all the other goodies at Gardens North, too.

I might also add that I am not a know-it-all here (just know-a-lot) and encourage other opinions.

Here's a list of sources of lily bulbs (and some seeds, I suppose) from the American Lily Society website:

http://www.lilies.org/06d_sources.html

P.S.  Gardens North has seeds of a few lilies, though not bulbs.  If you are looking for seed sources, the NARGS and SRGC seedexes typically list a lot of lilies (SRGC's list this year was phenomenal).  Also, private seed vendors, including, for example, the Czech collectors mentioned in other threads here, can also be excellent resources for the less commonly-grown lily species.

Twin scaling seems to be going a bit too far but I always take some scales of any lily I receive at the time I get it,dormant or growing.A piece of basal plate is not necessary and I always break them off.

I put these in a polythene bag with a bit of damp vermiculite and leave them in the airing cupboard. Without fail bulbils develop in a few weeks/months and can then be potted up.If it is time for them to grow they produce a leaf and if it is winter they sit there until spring and then come up.

The only thing I do is if it is a winter potting I keep them cold but frost free,this is a personal fad and I have no evidence it makes any difference.

Time of year has proved irrelevant(I have never done Caucasian lilies) it works anytime when material is available.

Thank you all for great responses.  Wonderful information Rick.

Oh yes, I wasn't even thinking of twin scaling (gilding) the lilies.  I will be happy to get a few more out of the ones coming in this spring. 

At some point, I'll get around to serious bulb cuttage.  I think this summer it will be time to dice the Galanthus into little bits.

From seed I will be starting with superbum, as I have that from the Seed Ex already.  Anyone else get their seeds?

deesen wrote:

Lovely stuff Dave.

Hoy wrote:

Very nice, Dave. How many lilies do you have?

Thanks guys.

Hoy

I'm a hopeless seed addict so i have few --a number are in pots along paths as i haven't the space for them in the garden proper ..... :   :rolleyes: :rolleyes: D

Here's a Lilium Aurelian hybrid i managed to acquire over the weekend.

L.wardii has four flowers on it currently however at the other end of the scale a number of the OT Hybrids are just starting Here is L.OT hybrid 'touching' --Huge yummy blooms .  

Cheers Dave.

Dave, nice stuff.  How hot is it down there at this time of year?

Sometimes I like the backs of lily flowers better than the fronts,
especially with trumpets.

2n trumpet hybrid crosses:

Lilium "Mrs. R. O. Backhouse' and a Lilium martagon seedling

Lilium majoense and Lilium lancifolium 'Flore Pleno' (var. planescens)

Simply gorgeous, and great photos too, really showing off the magnificent blooms from the back.  Is there a more elegant flower than lily blooms?  I don't think so.

Yes, beautiful!!  Thanks for brightening the winter, Dave and Rick.  

How does Lilium lancifolium var. planescens differ from the norm, Rick?  Opening so widely that the flower is flat, maybe?  ??? ???

Lori wrote:

How does Lilium lancifolium var. planescens differ from the norm, Rick?  

Multiple petals.  Usually 2-3 times the normal six.  I've never checked to see if it is consistant.  But with the hose-in hose form, I think it will always be multiples of three.  And yes, it is flatter than the normal.  

There was a reason why I preserved the name planescens over Flore Pleno, besides it being what I obtained it as, but heck if I remember.    Another one of those "so long ago" things.  I have some old literature with the name, but a current googling of planescens, etc., tells me I should update it.

Lilium lancifolium 'Flore Pleno'

Oh, so it is double!  My eyes tricked me into thinking it had very long, very recurved petals.  ???

Lori wrote:

My eyes tricked me into thinking it had very long, very recurved petals.  ???

:D The hose-in-hose effect...
Instead of petals being evenly spaced all over (like in a rose), these are in ranks. ;D

Most uplifting to see these, Rick and Dave! (And no lily beetles I presume ;) )

How do we attach a picture?  I've been trying...

Michael

Michael, here are instructions for posting photos:
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=12.0

(You can find various forum instructions of this nature at the top of the forum page the under NARGS and Forum Administration/Announcements from Moderators and Administrators.  :) )

always good to try again...

This is an un-named hybrid from the Cornell breeding program.  I wonder what the ones they KEPT look like!

Yes, thankfully, no lily beetles.

That's a heck of a lily, Michael!  The flowers are enormous, and numerous, and it must be, what, seven or eight feet tall?!

Stunning Lily Michael .

Rick We have just gone through an unseasonal 5 weeks of dry warm weather with the temps about the mid 20s celsius.

However it is back to 'business as usual' with today being sunny 21C--a front coming through tomorrow 16C with hail ,squally showers  :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Thankfully no lily beetles here either ,(never heard of them being in New Zealand ).

Here's a close up of the back of what i have raised as L.wardii....

Cheers Dave.

Thank you, but I can't take ownership of the lily.  It's Judith's.  The plant is indeed about 7.5 feet tall.  I hope to get offsets this spring.  Perhaps, I'll get around to scaling it.  I don't remember if it has fragrance and that may be why Cornell passed on the plant.  It may, however, be good for additional breeding for size and color of Orienpets. 

Thank you for the assistance posting the photo.  It will get easier the more I do it...

Michael

We've had a few lilies come through our summer so far!
Lilium "X-Phi" is a turk's cap Aurelian Hybrid

"Pappo's Beauty" is an Oriental or Orient-pet,

And "Leslie Woodriff" is similar but not as vigorous with us,

cheers
fermi

A strong, straight stem on that Aurelian, Fermi. And a well spaced inflorescense, too.

Very nice, all of them!

As I don't have lilies yet I have to show one from last year. Which one is it?

A very old martagon section lily hybrid from 1921, Mrs. R.O. Backhouse is still one of my favorites.
       

Lilium martagon 'Claude Shride'.  Last season the white strip on the petal backs were much more prominent.
       

Some martagon seedlings:
       

A cross of mine involving Lilium tsingtauense.  The bud was quite interesting, showing tips of bright orange, but the flower, though nice, is not what I anticipated.  The flower is unusually flat for this type of lily.
       

Lilium 'Brotsing', another martagon section hybrid, is quite large and has white buds.
       

Lilium 'Super Tsing', a L.martagon and L. tsingtauense cross.
             

Rick, your lilies are weeks ahead of mine. I have Mrs R O Backhouse too but I can't even see the buds! Some interesting crosses too.

One of the earliest blooming asiatics: Lilium amabile
             
       

Last year I showed this form of Lilium duchartrei
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=750.msg10756#msg10756

Now I have this one to present
       

A Lilium davidii seedling and Lilium davidii var. willmottiae
       

The lily "species" lily that masquerades as L. tsingtauense in most catalogs, but it is really a natural cross of L. tsingtauense with L. distichum and/or L. medeoloides.  (It is not known exactly which.)
The many faces of this one, all the same clone:
             

A couple open pollinated seedling siblings from Lilium 'Super Tsing', a cross of L. martagon and L. tsingtauense.
       

Lilium lijiangense.  The lighter color is the true color.
       

Edited to correct identity mistakes.

Rick, I'm envyous. You have so many beautiful lilies!
The few that have survived the hordes of gastropods are still in bud :-\

Well Trond, I do have lots of lilies, but the seedlings aren't always that nice.  I don't think you looked too closely at the the previous long stemmed pic.  Flowers on that Super Tsing open pollinated seedling are super thick petaled, and flowers (and petals) not well formed in my opinion. That's the best photo I could take of it!  In fact, that's why I chose that one to show; not all crosses are successes.

Note that I also edited their  identities in that message to be correct.

Your lily bloom is so far advanced, Rick!  You were describing the very warm winter earlier - has it resulted in earlier lily bloom or is this normal for you?  
Even the martagons are nowhere near blooming in my yard yet.  I did see a western red lily blooming in the park on my way home last night, though the ones in my yard will be a few days yet.

I find the unusual symmetry of L. x tsingtauense very intriguing!  Love the L. lijiangense as well, with the dark nectary lines and the interesting planes in the center!

Rick the Lilies are looking great.I have  some Lilies and few more days to bloom.

Yes, lilies are blooming earlier than normal here.  But while the spring broke about 3 weeks early and spring blooming flowers bloomed then,  the lilies only seem to be a bout 2 weeks earlier than normal. 

I tried to keep the mulch over my lilies on as long as possible, and when I finally decided I had to remove some if it, most of the bulbs had already sprouted under the mulch.  Not a problem for established plants, but I had planted a hundred or so seedlings of various sizes last fall, and a lot of sprouts began wandering under the mulch rather than pushing up through.  So I have a lot of healthy, but prostrate stalks this year.

Aside from Lilium davidii and Lilium lancifolium, Lilium maculatum is the easiest species I have grown. 
This one from seed from plants bought from the Species Lily Preservation Group (SLPG)
Lilium maculatum var. wilsoni
             

Lilium lankongense flowers are smaller this season.  I believe it is water stress in my clay based soil.  We are really making up for our August to April severe drought, as we have had over four inches of rain so far in June.
       

Typical viral symptoms on the lily hybrid Pink Panther.  Of course, this was immediately dug and tossed in the garbage to be taken away. The second photo is what the cultivar should look like.
       

Rick, here (at my summerhouse) it is only Lilum bulbiferum which is in flower. L bulbiferum is a very old garden plant in Norway and my plants selfsow here. Yesterday I had to pick several lily beetle larvae though :-\

RickR, I modify my heavy soil by tilling it as deep as possible, then piling about 1.5 inches of coarse sand on top and tilling it in.  Some decayed bark or other organic matter is also helpful, but the sand is permanent; it does not decompose.  So now you've got sandy loam topsoil.  Gardening in sandy loam is a pleasure; I don't know why people put up with clay.  Also, nearly everything will grow on a raised bed of sandy loam soil.  If you search my posts, you will find that phrase "raised bed of sandy loam soil" repeated ad nauseum.  Also, sandy loam is very conducive to seed germination.  In a way, this is bad, because nearly everything I grow soon becomes "invasive".  

If your soil is acid, apply lime regularly.  This also improves soil structure.  If used in moderation, it is not toxic to acid-loving plants.  All plants need some Calcium and Magnesium.

A raised bed of sandy loam will get quite warm in Summer.  If you are growing lilies, I strongly recommend using bark mulch and companion plants to keep the soil cool.  Otherwise you run the risk of bulb rot.

Here is a photo of a big soil improvement project, with my garden assistant Mr. Kubota providing invaluable assistance (and keeping me out of intensive care):

The lily species are very happy this year, even though the weather here has been even colder and wetter than normal.  Shown in order of bloom:

Lilium maritimum:
[attachthumb = 1]

Lilium bulbiferum croceum:
[attachthumb = 2]

Lilium hansoni:
[attachthumb = 3]

Lilium columbianum:
[attachthumb = 4]

Lilium grayi:
[attachthumb = 5]

Lilium martagon album:
[attachthumb = 6]

Lilium lijiangense:
[attachthumb = 7]

Lilium amabile:
[attachthumb = 8]

Lilium tsingtauense:
[attachthumb = 9]

Lilium kelloggi white form:
[attachthumb = 10]

A few more species lilies (not in order of bloom):

Lilium candidum:
[attachthumb = 1]

Lilium leichtlinii v. maximowiczii:
[attachthumb = 2]

Lilium kelloggi:
[attachthumb = 3]

Lilium pyreniacum:
[attachthumb = 4]

A fantastic collection, and obviously well grown.  (Just look at the number of buds on that hansonii!) 

Wow, that Lilium bulbiferum croceum is a particularly nice form with its defined color zoning.  Do you get true seed, or is that the only clone you have?

Your Lilium lijiangense is a heavily speckled form, and shorter pedicels than mine, too. Again, enviable traits.  I have seen forms with almost no speckles: nice, but rather boring, in my opinion.

Lilium grayi, another to-die-for-species, I never tire of seeing.  Someday...

I have L. pyrenaicum coming from seed.  Knowing that it is a delayed hypogeal germinating seed, it still took an extra year just to germinate, and is growing rather slowly in my estimation.  I hope it doesn't take nine years to bloom like it did with Darm!

The bulbiferum croceum was grown from seed exchange seeds.  I have several seedlings, so hopefully I'll get some seed.  I'm hand-pollinating.  I've also tried cross-pollinating bulbiferum and bulbiferum croceum.  I don't know yet if that will work.

I hope the L. grayi  sets seed, but the stamens are black, and I don't see loose pollen.  I don't know if this is normal.  Maybe the moths will pollinate them for me.

L. pyreniacum took five years to bloom from seed.  So far, two stems out of five have bloomed.

I believe many native lily populations are losing vigor due to inbreeding.  This may be why some species that used to be easy to grow (like chalcedonicum) are now very difficult.  One of the things that gardeners can do is to grow plants from several populations, and cross-pollinate them.  This is what happened back when natural populations were much bigger and closer together.

Note that I am using tomato cages to support lilies with long, weak stems, like lijiangense.  It keeps them from getting in the way, and getting accidentally broken off.  Not pretty, but I don't have time to individually stake plants.

First of mine in flower on our return from holiday

Lilium martagon ssp cattaniae

So many super lilies - a delight to see.

Gene, when you advise adding some lime to more acid soils, at what rate would you apply that, and how often  ? Every year, every other year?

P.S Gene will be introducing the lilies of North West America to IRG readers very soon  8)

About liming acid soil:  there is the "correct" answer:  do a soil test, and get a recommendation for application rate based on that.  Unfortunately, this rate will vary for each type of plant being grown.

And there is the "pragmatic" answer:  I know that my soil is very acid, because the local soil conservation guy told me.  So I apply a handful of lime on every square foot of soil surface.  If this improves plant growth, I continue applying lime each year, but at a lower rate, maybe a half handful per square foot.  This is because lime is fairly persistent in the soil; it leaches out slowly, assuming that your soil has some clay in it.

The problem with the pragmatic approach is that my soil may require THREE handfuls of lime per square foot to reach optimum pH.  But my experience growing vegetables is that one handful is a whole lot better than no lime at all.  I refuse to pay $30 for the soil test, when the soil conservation folks know what the characteristics are anyway.  For example, it is well known that the soils in this area have plenty of Phosphorus.  So the lawn fertilizer companies are making fertilizer with no P, just N and K.  And this makes sense anyway, since P is very immobile in the soil, and tends not to leach out, whereas N and K are very mobile, and leach quickly.

So every Spring, I sprinkle a little lime (preferably dolomitic), a little fertilizer, and sometimes a little Micromax trace element mix on my garden soil, without knowing whether I am applying too much or too little.  My plants are very happy, so I am not going to change my method.  If my plants don't look so good, then maybe I will pay for the soil test.  If the plants are too vigorous, then I cut back on the fertilizer, or maybe skip a year of fertilization.  

Once every couple of years, I will apply roughly one handful of lime for every few square feet around my acid-loving plants, including rhodies, blueberries, natives, etc.  I can't prove that this is helping, but it certainly isn't hurting.  But remember that my native soil is extremely acid.  Every green plant on Earth needs some Calcium and Magnesium, the two active elements in dolomitic lime.
http://www.ccaontario.com/FCKEditor/File/Calcium%20Nutrition%20in%20Plan...
http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/ff/Mg_Basics.htm

If you have any doubts, or if your plants are sickly, pay for the soil test.  If you are a commercial grower with large acreage, you should definitely pay for the soil test.  What if your soil has been under cultivation for many years, and no longer resembles the native soil in your area?  At the very least, you should buy some pH paper and test the soil acidity.  Or buy a cheap soil testing kit.  Or go ahead and get a professional soil test done.  The problem with cultivated areas is that the soil will vary greatly from one part of the yard to another.  So there is no neat and tidy answer.

Gene, you are showing some really beautiful lilies! I particularly liked grayi and kelloggi!

A giant martagon (or is it a hybrid?) :

It's over 6 feet tall.  It came to me in a packet of seed labelled L. mackliniae.

A nice stem of lankongense:

What an elegant form of L. lankongense, Gene.
 I grow a different type, with a more rigid and narrower growth pattern.

I can grow them, but I am not good at ID.  So feel free to let me know if my plants are not identified correctly. 

In fact I used to have that graceful form, procured after the type I posted photos of previously.  Unless it is a very close hybrid, it is indeed L. lankongense.  The one I grew like that came from a big commercial seller like Jung or some such.  It bloomed wonderfully, but declined yearly, and lasted only 4 or 5 years. ???  With a raceme(lankongense) instead of an umbel(wardii and duchartrei) arrangement, I don't think it can be anything else.  Leaves are slightly different, with leaf arrangement far more sparse with ductartrei.  The Flora of China has an unusually good collect of photo links of duchartrei: http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027714

Lilium lankongense foliage.  Leaves have 5-7 strong veins.
       

Lilium duchartrei foliage. Leaves have 3-5 veins, less apparent.
               

Lilium medeoloides:

Cardiocrinum giganteum (with Tropaeolum speciosum on left):

I really like the growth pattern of your L. medeoloides, Gene.  Both the foliage and the inflorescence.  It seems very refined and even noble, to me. :o

the cardiocrinum ain't too shabby, either!

Forgot to say, Tony, how wonderful those Lilium martagon ssp. cattaniae look.  :o
 I hope mine do just as well!

When I dug these bulbs 2 years ago, I was surprised that they were so large and hefty: more like a hybrid than a species.  But they sure didn't like being moved; the next year, there was no bloom, and growth was small, though very healthy.  Back to maturity, now...
The Flora of China doesn't recognize Lilium majoense, and the closest is certainly Lilium primulinum or Lilium nepalense according to the FoC.  There must be a lot of variation in the species.
       

From my seed planted in 2008, Lilium michiganense is in bloom.
       

Gene, I like your approach to liming - sounds like the practical approach to recipes used  by the best cooks!

Again, Lilium duchartrei.  This one has a noticeable green base and green tips when in bud, similar to Lilium monadelphum and its maroon coloring.  I used to have a L. duchartrei with maroonish-brown base and tips, but it mysteriously disappeared. :'(  That one was most excellent.  Isn't it funny how your most cherished tend to be the most difficult...
         

Lilium leichtlinii.  Bulbs from the Species Lily Preservation Group.  The black stem is very evident, but unfortunately the coloring is not as showy in the inflorescence.  
       

A quite unique inflorescence structure.
             

Lilium maculatum  var. wilsonii.  This species has very lustrous, thick leaves, and so has been used frequently in breeding.
       

I crossed Lilium leichtlinii with Lilium maculatum var. wilsonii.  I had two first blooms last year.  As would be expected, there is not a whole lot of variation in this primary cross.  When lilies bloom with only one flower, as these, the aspect (the angle at which the flower is held) is not always the same as when there are multiple flowers in an inflorescence.   
  #1     #2

I don't think I have had any lily that is so vigorous.  This year, #1 shown above has 15 flowers (including 4 secondaries)!  #2 has 9!
            #1

Nice stems of michiganense.  I can grow them here, but they won't set seed, even with hand pollination.  Maybe it has something to do with temperature. 

Rick

the Lilium majoense is very similar to L. poilanei which I grow.

Also here is a picture of L. michiganense growing by a river at Kleinburg Ontario ten days ago

I did consider L. poilanei, but at the time I thought it was native only to the southeast Asian peninsula.  No way would it be winter hardy here in zone 4!  In fact years ago, I passed on an offer of seed of the species because of that.  Now I see it is native in Yunnan also.  And foliage seems most similar to L. poilanei.  Definitely three veined, thick and waxy.  It was more thick and waxy when I grew it in full sun, but it seems more happy here in open shade.  So maybe...

Not too common for L. michiganense to have a tiered inflorescence.  It must be doing very well.  I meant to ask you, what is that twining thing on it?

Rick

I cannot help with the twining thing. The lily was growing just above the waterline on a small river in the grounds surrounding the McMichael art gallery and was taken with the zoom from about 50 feet away.

Does L michiganense need very moist soil?

Not many species lilies here at my summerhouse but a few others like these 'Capuchino' and 'Graffity'. ...and one which isn't a lily, Kniphofia uvaria!

Hoy wrote:

Does L michiganense need very moist soil?

In my experience, if Lilium michiganense doesn't get constantly moist soil, it will still flower, but the plant won't be that long lived (and of course, flowers will be smaller).  A few times now I have grown seedlings in places that get dry and hot in summer; They take a longer time to get to flowering, and then flower okay for a year or perhaps two and then slowly decline.  The nice thing about stoloniferous lilies is that easily dive down in the soil to find their proper growing depth for the area.

Below is an example of how stoloniferous bulbs can seek their proper depth in the soil. The original little seedling bulb from last season is at the top. This season it sent out two stolons terminating in bulbs. "Up" is up in the pic, "down" is down in the pic. The structure looks like the photo was taken at an angle because the new bulbs are so much larger, but no. The plant lays flat on the soil surface with the camera directly above.

Lilium papilliferum is not too well formed this season, due to the excess heat, I think.
             

Lilium auratum seems to be fairly happy with the root competition of other herbaceous plants.  Here it grows amidst Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold', Helleborus Royal Heritage and Brunnera 'Jack Frost'.
       

Really enjoying all of these fine lilies here, beautiful things they are!  Wish lily beetle wasn't such a problem here.

I agree Aaron the red-flowered twining plant is a Cynanchum, here's a couple links. Most species in this widespread genus are weedy, some invasives, but some good ones too.
http://blog.nexcerpt.com/2010/05/21/swallowwort/
http://blog.nexcerpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DSCN7772_50.jpg

One of my favorites is Cynanchum ascyrifolium (Vincetoxicum ascyrifolium), "Cruel Plant", not sure why that common name, one of my top favorite perennials, a subject worthy of a separate topic. :)

Thanks Aaron.  We don't always say so, but your expertise is very graciously appreciated (and essential!).

Mark, you mentioned lily beetles.  Lily leaf beetles have been found in Bellevue, WA -- the first infestation that I've heard of.  My son gathered up some from his trumpet lilies for my entomologist friend.  In just 2 days they've chomped through most of the foliage he put in the jar!  Horrors!

I killed more than 30 lily beetles during the last week! And a lot of larvae too >:(

Thanks for identifying the twiner.

Here are a couple more of mine

Lilium amoenum

Lilium tsingtauense,first flowering from a scale I was sent two years ago so only a single flower and well chewed by lily beetles which have been prolific this year

Of my two L. poilanei, one has eight buds this year and the other which is very poor and I am worried may be virused only one. Lots of seedlings from last year have just germinated.

Another form of Lilium papilliferum opened today.

Terrific lilies, Rick and Tony - L. papilliferum is a beautiful colour!

So sorry to hear about lily beetle reaching your area, Claire.  They are amazingly destructive and the larvae, particularly, are utterly disgusting things.  They first showed up in my yard about 3 years ago and have proliferated, despite my constant lily beetle patrols.  (To be any more vigilant, I'd have to quit work and patrol all day... hmmm, I think I could live with that...  ;D )

Lilium philadelphicum in the wild, western Minnesota.
More photos here: http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=455.msg18807#msg18807

And isn't this interesting...

Lilium lancifolium 'Flore Pleno'

Well, you could give me any of the other ones you've shown, anytime, instead.    ;)
I think I understand though... gotta try them all!  :)

Striking colour Rick, on that papilliferum!
Tony, L amoenum is lovely!

Rick, although the double lily is interesting I agree with Lori: I would choose any other if I had to make a choice  ;)

a couple more in flower

Lilium parryi

Lilium bakerianum ssp delavayi

Tony, parryi normally has a long throat and more of a bell shape.  Is it possible that your plant is a hybrid?
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lilium_parryi_(2).jpg

Gene

I see what you mean.

My plant came from a commercial source in the UK and there is every chance that it is a hybrid. Although it is very beautiful this is disappointing. It is also bulking up very quickly which is a bit suspicious.

If it is very vigorous, it may be a hybrid with pardalinum.

Popped in to mention here that in the next issue of International Rock Gardener, there is a super article from Gene Mirro - on............ Lilies!

Online on Friday 27th July  http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=international    8)

Lilium henryi var. citrinum

A very nice form of the variety, Michael, and well grown, too.

I'm really looking forward to Gene's article...

Increasing in bud count every year, but not getting any taller:
Lilium rosthornii
       

It has proven to be its regular habit, year after year, for this plant to abruptly change leaf size as it makes a flower stalk.  The phenomenon can be seen in the above photo and the one below.  Is this normal for the species?  I only have one mature clone of the species, so I can't tell.
             

IRG filled with those Lilies and other N. American plants, is online now, a little early  ;)
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2012Jul261343329301IRG31_July2012.pdf

RickR wrote:

Increasing in bud count every year, but not getting any taller:
Lilium rosthornii
 
It has proven to be its regular habit, year after year, for this plant to abruptly change leaf size as it makes a flower stalk.  The phenomenon can be seen in the above photo and the one below.  Is this normal for the species?  I only have one mature clone of the species, so I can't tell.
             

My rosthornii lilies show the same phenomenon, Rick. As I am not at home I only have looked at old pics though. I'll take a look when I get home soon!

Lilium poilanei in flower with me now

Beautiful, Tony!

wonderous!  :o :o :o

That's a lot of flowers for what seems like a short stem.  How tall is it, and how big are the flowers?

RickR wrote:

wonderous!  :o :o :o

That's a lot of flowers for what seems like a short stem.  How tall is it, and how big are the flowers?

I held it up to photograph it so it is only partially shown. It is on an arching stem three feet tall and each flower is just over two inches across. It is also nicely scented. I grow it in a pot of gritty compost plunged in an outdoor sand bed during the summer and then keep it just moist in the garage during the winter.

I received this catalogue yesterday and was amazed by the cover pic of a new hybrid lilium - 'Lankon' - from a L.longiflorum x L. lankonense cross.
Has anyone grown this one before and would they know what conditions it requires?
Any help would be appreciated - at over $10 a single bulb I don't really want to waste the time or the money if it's not suitable for this garden.
cheers
fermi

Faraway Flowers was one of the few distributors of Lankon in the US last season, and the owners has quite a following with the members of a lily forum I frequent.  http://allthingsplants.com/forums/view/lilies/  Several people have posted their Lankon flowers and it doesn't seem that difficult to grow.  I will inquire there for you, Fermi.

Blooming 7/5/12:
Lilium canadense:

[attachthumb = 1]

[attachthumb = 3]

L. formosanum pricei:

[attachthumb = 2]

[attachthumb = 5]

L maritimum, a very southerly form:

[attachthumb = 4]

L. bakerianum delavayi:

[attachthumb = 6]

L. michiganense:

[attachthumb = 7]

L. callosum:

[attachthumb = 8]

In bloom 7/27/12:
L. lancifolium diploid form:

[attachthumb = 9]

L. japonicum/auratum hybrid:

[attachthumb = 10]

L. sulphureum hybrid, maybe:  

[attachthumb = 1]

This had to be the most spectacular thing in the garden this year.  Definitely not rock garden material though.

L. speciosum gloriosides:

[attachthumb = 2]

Very unusual.

They are all glorious, Gene! Bravo!

Spectacular, Gene!  And I don't mean just the gloriosoides. :o
  Such nice form on the L. formosanum var. pricei and
the stature of the L. maritimum and L. callosum is impressive.

Fermi, I had forgotten all about your Lankon question. :(
I did ask, but didn't get a lot of good feedback.  Here it is:

http://allthingsplants.com/thread/view/12193/Lankon/

I only had one gloriosides this year, so no seed.  Also, they bloom very late, so they probably won't produce seed in my cool, short summers.  Maybe I need to grow them in the greenhouse.

RickR wrote:

Fermi, I had forgotten all about your Lankon question. :(
I did ask, but didn't get a lot of good feedback.  Here it is:

http://allthingsplants.com/thread/view/12193/Lankon/

Thanks, Rick, sorry for not replying earlier - I'd been a bit busy and had hardly any time to check out the Forum.
I read the first couple of replies when you posted the link earlier.
In fact I see that Anthony G has bought the bulbs from the same supplier - VDQ = Van Diemen Quality Bulbs - in Tassie.
cheers
[Mr] fermi  ;D

A couple of sps currently showing colour .

So pleased to see Lilium pumilum  --I had to rescue it from the garden last season.
L.pyrenaicum.

A number of others in bud including L.parryi from seed --hope it is worth the wait and true ........ :) Pics to follow later on.

Cheers Dave.

Makes me longing for summer, Dave!

The ciliate edges of the L. pyrenaicum leaves are remarkable, Dave.

  Does the silver edge last through the growing season?

RickR wrote:

Does the silver edge last through the growing season?

I'm not sure Rick --Will keep an eye out and report back.

Cheers Dave.

The silvery edging on L. pyrenaicum leaves does las t though the season here.

If only I could persuade the Bulb Despot (Ian) that we should have MORE lovely red L. pumilum and FEWER L. pyrenaicum  :-\  I HATE the smell of L. pyrenaicum - he thinks it is quite pleasant........ :P

IMYoung wrote:

The silvery edging on L. pyrenaicum leaves does las t though the season here.

If only I could persuade the Bulb Despot (Ian) that we should have MORE lovely red L. pumilum and FEWER L. pyrenaicum  :-\   I HATE the smell of L. pyrenaicum - he thinks it is quite pleasant........ :P

I like the appearance of both lilies, not only the ciliate leaf edge on L.pyrenaicum, but also the dense foliage stacking on that species. Maggi, maybe I shouldn't ask, but how would you describe the smell of L. pyrenaicum blooms?

Every time I come to admire the gorgeous lilies on these pages, I regret that I have lily beetle in the garden, and have no time, no interest, nor realistic ability to follow a regimen of spraying with chemicals. But that's okay, I can watch from afar, I need to be realistic, I still can barely handle the plants I do well with nor can I keep up with the weeding. :)

Quote:

Maggi, maybe I shouldn't ask, but how would you describe the smell of L. pyrenaicum blooms?

:D Well, I know that it is often possible to describe scents as being similar to some other familiar fragrance, or stink, as the case may be  :P  but for these lilies I am stuck for a comparison . :-\

Unpleasantly foetid but not in a way I can easily characterise.  Just yucky!!

I've seen Lilium pyrenaicum seed on the NARGS seed ex that is described as "sweet scented".

  Does anyone have any input on this?

For me, "sweet scent" is what Lilium regale, or formosanum or the oriental trumpet types have.
I know that those can be cloying for some folks. They can be a bit overpowering in quantty and close proximity indoors, I agree - but  pyrenaicum smells bad - even just passing them in the garden I hate the smell - too much of the "not so recently dead" about them. I'd love to hear from someone who can attribute a recognizably pleasant smell to them!

IMYoung wrote:

Quote:

Maggi, maybe I shouldn't ask, but how would you describe the smell of L. pyrenaicum blooms?

:D Well, I know that it is often possible to describe scents as being similar to some other familiar fragrance, or stink, as the case may be  :P   but for these lilies I am stuck for a comparison . :-\

Unpleasantly foetid but not in a way I can easily characterise.  Just yucky!!

The word that comes to mind for me is Fox (being polite) droppings!

IMYoung wrote:

 pyrenaicum smells bad - even just passing them in the garden I hate the smell - too much of the "not so recently dead" about them.

Mmm.......at the moment Arisaema tortuosum is having the same effect on me --so much so i'm avoiding walking down the path where a patch is in bloom.

Anyway on a more pleasant note the L.martagons have started .....

Cheers Dave.

Lilies? I have to wait a long time for them. . . . Last night we got 60cm snow and a gale is expected to hit tomorrow evening.

Good to see your lilies then, Dave!

20C early this morning --10c at lunch time with rain so great for the shrubs and the mass of white carpet roses i was planting out this arvo for a client.
It'll be a snow white effect in time Hoy but without the cold  ;)

My hope is for regular rain over the next week and beyond so there aren't any losses while folk are away for the xmas break.

Cold enough tonight that we have have the log burner going  :rolleyes:

Cheers Dave.

20C in the morning to -10C at lunch... sounds like the weather here!  ;D ;D 

Oops  i guess you could read my post above as minus 10C when in fact it dropped to 10C.
I do need to watch where i place my -'s .......... :D

Cheers Dave.

Yes, just kidding, Dave.  ;D  I knew you were referring to +10C... (but we really do get ridiculous temperature swings like that (-10 to +20C) sometimes here when chinooks roll in in the winter.)

My best stem of L. mackliniae so far.  Six flowers:

[attachthumb = 1]

Everything here is very early because of several weeks of hot, sunny, dry weather in early May.

Gene wrote:

My best stem of L. mackliniae so far.  Six flowers:

[attachthumb = 1]

Everything here is very early because of several weeks of hot, sunny, dry weather in early May.

Here it is the opposite, everything is very late because of several monthe of cold, dry weather all winter and spring. It is better now but I can't grow lilies like that anyway :o

Truly breathtaking, Gene! :o

The colors are so complimentary and subtle.
  They really bring a lot of depth to the character.

Gene they are really very beautiful

Cleaning up the last of my stem bulblets this fall, I felt the need to share....

Rick,

that could've been a pic out of "Rix and Phillips" !

Very artistic,

cheers

fermi

Each bulblet has a piece of granite grit under it to prop it into position for the photo op.

And then this crawled out of one of them.....

Identified by a friend, it's a species of Pseudoscorpion (Chelifer sp.), a predatory mite.  From its butt to the end of its pincers, it is not more than one millimeter long.

----- Cool!

I am really pleased with what my new camera can do.  Of course, still being a pocket camera it has its limitations.

Rick, your Lily bulb collage is wonderful, so colorful, bright, and well presented. And then that little nasty pseudoscorpion, what is it a predator of? Impressive that a pocket camera can take such a photo of that lil beastie at only 1 mm in length.  And what new camera are you using?  Current technology in photography is mind boggling, when thinking about the older days of SLR cameras and expensive film and film processing; with current digital technology it's easy to go out into the garden and shoot hundreds of photos, at no expense.

Pseudoscorpions may be nasty looking, but are not nasty at all.  When I first saw it, it looked like a speck with giant claws.  Not knowing what species it is, I guess I can’t say for sure what it eats, but these beneficial arachnids eat other small mites, and many insects like aphids, beetle larvae, caterpillars, etc. 

I think that pic is about the limitation of the close up feature with my Sony RX100M2.  (I splurged.)  I have had it for about a month, and although all my photos with my previous Panasonic point and shoot were taken with auto mode (no other option), the auto mode on this Sony is terrible with anything even remotely close up.  I quickly learned how to remedy that!  The backlit technology of the 1 inch sensor (giant for a pocket camera) really allows for low light use and 20 megapixel compilation.  Probably the greatest single improvement over my old Panasonic Lumix TZ4.  The camera doesn't focus closer than 4cm, but the high pixel count compensates a lot.  This was the original photo (at 4cm) that the image above came from:

The promise of things to come

Asiatic Liliums planted a few months ago are soon to flower

cheers

fermi

The first to flower is an Asiatic called 'Tiny Padhye'

cheers

fermi

Nice.  And how "tiny" is it?

Hi Rick,

it's just over a foot tall (30 cm); it's the shortest one in the group shot above,

cheers

fermi

Another couple open now, 'Yeti' a low growing Asiatic Hybrid,

and an unknown LA (longiflorum-asiatic) Hybrid

which was labeled as 'Lipstick' another Asiatic,

cheers

fermi

New to our garden is a "bonus" bulb which was sent by Adrian from Coal Creek Bulb Farm with my order earlier in the year. He told me that he didn't know what it would be himself! It's obvious a Longiflorum- Asiatic Hybrid, any suggestions to the name?

cheers

fermi

I cannot grow this lily! This is a clump of Madonna Lilies, Lilium candidum growing in the garden at work which has been untended as far as I know for the last few months but has come up into glorious flower despite (or maybe because of) the neglect!

cheers

fermi

I should add that I've tried growing Lilium candidum several times from bulbs in various positions in the garden with soil amendments including lime, ash and charcoal and still the plants just dwindled away. After seeing these doing so well I'll give them another go! Maybe I can get these to set seed?

cheers

fermi

The one time I tried a Madonna lily bulb, I knew it wasn't in the best place.  I hoped it might adapt, but I didn't expect it to dwindle so quickly.

  Can't get the seed to germinate, but I've only tried once.... so far.

Here's an updated pic of the pink LA hybrid which is possibly 'Brindisi'

This is the latest Asiatic lilium to flower, 'Tiger Play'

cheers

fermi

Royal Trinity is another LA hybrid; it's done very well for us and we now have it in a few places in the "perennial border";

it's a medium height, soft orange/apricot,

cheers

fermi

New this season for us is the Asiatic Lilium 'Red Velvet'

cheers

fermi

More Liliums in bloom in our garden; thank heavens the recent heat wave didn't fry them all - but the summer's not over yet!

Lilium 'Triumphator'

cheers

fermi

A soft yellow Trumpet Lilium, 'Golden Saint'

cheers

fermi

Fermi,

Thank you for posting pictures of your lilies.  They are such a bright spot compared to the gray, wet scene outside my window!

...Claire

Triumphator usually blooms in the heat of the summer here, and it causes floppy looking and wilty appearance, and only lightly color flowers.  However this past season they bloomed during a relative cool spell, and flowers were deeply colored.  I never took photos of the ugly times, but these still show what a difference the heat can make here in Minnesota.

Pretty flowers! Here only Lenten roses are in flower in the garden at the moment!

Wow, Rick, that's quite a difference!

Yesterday the first flower opened on Lilium leichtlinii and this morning a second bud looked fit to burst; this afternoon it was open and starting to reflex,

cheers

fermi

We visited a friend who lives in a cooler area and she had this Lilium in flower which she thinks is Lilium grayi,

cheers

fermi

Hello Fermi

I wonder if your friend's Lilium is L.canadense.

Here's Lilium grayi currently in bloom .  

Followed by a couple of unknowns . 

Check here for comparisons.  There are intermediates between the two species, apparently not that rare in nature.

Lilium canadense

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101728

Lilium grayi

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101731

Illustrations

http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=41595&flora_id=1

Thanks, Dave and Rick,

we'll have to check out more on the Web!

In our garden another Orient-Pet is in bloom, 'Silk Road'

cheers

fermi

Oops, I thought I'd already posted pics of Orient-pet Lilium 'Saltarello'!

cheers

fermi

Another new one for us is the Oriental-Trumpet Hybrid Lilium 'Table Dance'

cheers

fermi

Orient-Pet 'Orania' is in a new color range for these lilies!

cheers

fermi

Taken this morning, Oriental -Trumpet hybrid Lilium 'Ovation'

cheers

fermi

I thought this was an Aurelian Hybrid, but apparently it's another Orient-pet, 'Mr Cas'

cheers

fermi

Yet another "new" Orient-pet Lilium this year is 'Robina'

I'm hoping that these new Orient-Pets do as well as the ones we established earlier like 'Silk Road' which now puts up tall stems with many flowers, 

cheers

fermi

One of the groups I belong to is the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society which meet in The Dandenongs, East of Melbourne. It's over 2 hours drive from home but well worth it, especially as they have 4 Flower Shows a year and this weekend was the Summer Show, featuring Liliums, Vireya Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas.

I'll post a few pics of the Liliums here, unless the Moderators think I should start a new thread?

Here's the main bench with the "Best in Show" - a stem of a stupendous Oriental-Trumpet (O-T) Lilium 'Belladonna' shown by Adrian Van Kampen who has a small business "Club Creek Bulb Farm" which is where most of my new liliums were sourced!

cheers

fermi

You have got a very nice collection, Fermi! Some admirable ones at that show too. No problem with the red beetle?

[quote=Hoy]

You have got a very nice collection, Fermi! Some admirable ones at that show too. No problem with the red beetle?

[/quote]

As Far as I know the red lily beetle hasn't been found here - yet! A frightening prospect if it ever did,

cheers

fermi

The Red Lily Beetle wasn't here when I was a youngster, but it definitely is in the area now- probably why I haven't added any lilies to the garden yet. Last summer I noticed my neighbour's Cardiocrinum giganteum was under attack by these pests. At least she was able to see the plant bloom. Hopefully the young offsets will take less time to maturity!

This was part of the non-competitive display by Adrian

cheers

fermi

Some individual blooms at the Show

cheers

fermi

A week of 40^oC temperatures have taken their toll on Lilium 'Canberra' which opened a bit singed!

Aurelian Lilium hybrid 'X-Phi' fared a bit better,

cheers

fermi

Our last Lilium for awhile ( there are a few others in bud but they may not get to full size as we still have another week of 40^oC ahead!) in fact the last one of the stem, Lilium 'Black Beauty' - the original cross between L. henryi and L. speciosum which led to the creation of the Oriental-Trumpet Hybrids,

cheers

fermi