LILIUM
These bulbs are amongst the most beautiful plants that can be grown in the gardens of the temperate world. Their striking flowers, stunning perfume and exotic origins all contribute to the mystique, the miracle that is the "Queen of all flowers". On offer below is the largest range of garden worthy species in Australia if not the world. Some are the absolute aristocrats of their family and require closer attention to cultivation detail but almost all are easily grown in acid or neutral soil in a cool root run where plants can ascend into sunny conditions for a good portion of the day.

aurelian hybrid "Golden Clarion" A superbly vigorous and reliable strain growing upwards of 2m in suitable conditions. Strongly erect stems clothed in scattered narrow leaves can carry up to as many as 15 thickly sculptured trumpets. These are widely flaring and sometimes mildly rolled back and can range from deep gold to buttery yellow stained dark red to bronze on the exterior. FS/1st $ 6.00

Bellingham hybrids A range of American West Coast hybrids bred from a complex blend of L.pardalinum, L.parvum and L.superbum. Nodding turks-caps in various shades of orange, peach and deep red spotted darker in the throat. These are vigorous, tall growing plants that can easily make 2m and carry up to 50 flowers on long pedicels. FS/1st $7.00

brownii var. viridulum While L. brownii is considered by many to be the perfection of the lily form it is surrounded by confusion and mystery. Three varieties have been described, the type from a single clone found in cultivation that has never since been re-discovered in the wild. The plants on offer are from the wild variety found in central China where it is very common and gathered as food. We can't vouch for its culinary qualities but its horticultural ones are outstanding. Bears up to 4 large, strongly perfumed trumpets on stems from 1.4m to 2m. These are pale yellow on opening but soon turn to white with a touch of green shading in the throat. The outer surfaces are marked in green and rosy-purple. FS/1st $8.00

canadense Amongst the most beautiful of all lilies and a must for every lily grower. Tall, unbranched stems bear pendant, funnel-shaped flowers shaded from egg-yolk yellow to soft peach through to red on long, arching pedicels. These are lightly spotted maroon to dark brown in the throat. The bulbs are stoloniferous and narrow, fresh-green leaves occur in whorls along the length of the stem. Needs cool, semi-shaded conditions where the bulbs can be kept slightly moist all year round. FS/1st $8.00

davidii var. unicolor Lilium davidii is native to southwest China and is named for its discoverer, the French missionary and naturalist Pere David. This particular form has stouter stems than the type, fewer scattered leaves and bears up to 15 pale orange, unspotted flowers. These are turk's-cap in shape, slightly pendant and thickly textured, hence very long lasting. An excellent lily for the garden where it will thrive and increase in any reasonably fertile soil type FS/1st $5.00

davidii var. willmottiae Resembling the type with its cinnabar to scarlet flowers, finely spotted in black, but the stems are taller, towards 1.5m., more arching and carry many more flowers, upwards of 40 at times. A very robust lily for the garden where it will thrive in full sun to light shade, and like the other listed variety will tolerate moderately dry conditions. Limit of 1 per customer FS/1st $7.00

duchartrei This very attractive species is native to northwestern China and is closely related to, if not a colour variant of, L. lankongense. Known as Farrer's Marbled Martagon it has stoloniferous bulbs that bear up to 12 fragrant, turk's-cap flowers. These are marble-white, flushed with purple and more darkly spotted in the throat. Growing up to 70cm. in height it is a delightful introduction to a cool garden. FS/1st $7.00

formosanum var. pricei A little gem, like a smaller version of L. regale and flowering at the same time. It is very pretty when in bud, which is elegantly shaped and attractively striped and shaded. Growing to a maximum height of 60cm, it bears only one fragrant bloom per stem. Seeds set well and can reach flowering within the year. Not suitable for Sydney basin area because of its propensity to do too well in this environment and possibly escape from the garden. FS/1st $4.00

japonicum Native to southern Honshu, Japan where it is known as Sasa-yuri or the Bamboo Lily, this beautiful, soft-pink trumpet lily must be considered one of the gems in an already exceptional genus. Generally 1 to 5 fragrant, broadly funnel-shaped flowers are borne on slender stems reaching up to 1m. In the wild it grows on summer wet, cool, shady slopes so acid, humus-rich soil in woodland is recommended. Exclusive offering FS/1st $16.00

lancifolium A very popular lily from the Far East with pendant turk's-cap flowers usually numbering 12 to 20, though there may be as many as 40. These are pinkish-orange to orange-red with dark purple spots. Stems can be 1.5m or more with narrow, scattered leaves along their length and bulbils in the axils. An easy lily that enjoys fertile acid soil, though it can tolerate lime, and a useful addition to the herbaceous border or planted in pots or tubs. FS/1st $5.00

lancifolium var. flaviflorum A more unusual, and to our eye, more attractive form of the Tiger Lily. Lovely, lightly spotted, soft-lemon turk's-cap flowers, numbering upwards of 12, carried on stems upwards of 1.2m. An easy and accommodating variety, flowering in early summer almost anywhere one wants to plant it in the garden. FS/1st $6.00

lankongense Regarded as the Yunnan counterpart to the more northern L.duchartrei. Slender, wiry stems carry up to 15 nodding turk's-cap flowers that are flushed with rose and spotted with purple maroon. Modestly stoloniferous, over time the bulbs will spread gently through moist, well- aerated soil, creating small, well-behaved clumps. This species has dark green scattered leaves on arching stems to 1.2m. Could be a few L. duchartrei mixed in with these. Just as beautiful but with the flower colour reversed i.e. marble white with deep purple spots. FS/1st $6.00 or 3 for $16.00

leichtlinii A very rare species named after the famous German nurseryman, Max Leichtlin. It is uncommon in the wild where it is confined to a few stations in the mountainous areas of Japan. Bears from one to six nodding turk's-cap flowers in pale yellow lightly marked with purplish maroon spots. Erect dark stems to 1.2m with very narrow scattered leaves. Only a few bulbs of this woodland gem available this year. Limit of 1 per customer. FS/1st $8.00

mackliniae A very choice and distinctive species bearing early in the season beautiful shell pink to lilac-mauve hanging bells that are more reminiscent of a fr itillaria than a lily! Another of Frank Kingdon Ward's discoveries from Manipur, the area of north eastern India once called Assam and given the special epithet in honour of his wife Jean (nee Macklin). Grows up to 75cm in height and bears at most 6 or 7 flowers. Needs good humus rich soil. FS/1st $7.00 or 3 for $18

martagon This species has a very long cultivation history and like all things of quality is still highly valued for its early blooms and trouble free culture. A delightful species carrying spires of thick, waxy, pink to purple turk's-cap flowers, numbering up to 50, on strongly erect stems which are wreathed with whorls of oval shaped leaves. At its best in woodland shade where it can be used to excellent effect in between shrubs and in light woodland but can tolerate sunny, drier conditions. Grows to 1.4m and is easy on acid or alkaline soil. FS/1st $6.00 each or 3 for $16

martagon var. album This lovely albino form of the above, with bright green stems and pure white unspotted flowers, is ideal for brightening up the foliage of shrubs and those gloomy corners where not a lot will grow. Its early growth and a long flowering period are two of its biggest strengths in the garden. FS/1st $7.00

medeoloides Carries on 70cm. stems upwards of 10 flowers with delicately reflexed petals, coloured apricot to orange scarlet, more darkly spotted in the throat. Native to Japan, Korea and Manchuria it appreciates well-drained, gritty soil with lots of humus. Grove (1911) described it as "a gem of the first water". Limit of 1 per customer FS/1st $12.00

nepalense One of the botanical treasures won from the "Forbidden Kingdom"of Nepal by Dr Nathaniel Wallich in 1832. A rare and striking lily bearing a few large, pendant wide-mouthed limegreen bells heavily stained deep burgundy in the throat. Very stoloniferous, it sends up strong but slender canes with relatively few scattered broad leaves some distance from the bulb. Use large containers! These are 4-year-old seedlings that will require a further 2 seasons to flower but a bargain at our prices. $6.00

parryi x wigginsii This is a hybrid swarm where each individual will display a varying mix of characteristics between the two species. Lilium wigginsii is similarly yellow but has more bellshaped flowers than L. parryi and these are peppered purple. Stems growing upwards of 1.4m are clothed in whorls of narrow leaves and will bear 5 to 20 long-lasting flowers. An exclusive offering of this excellent garden subject. Limit of 1 per customer FS/1st $8.00

regale A wonderful lily that has pride of place among Chinese lilies suitable for the garden with an equally gripping story of its introduction into cultivation. Ernest "Chinese" Wilson found it in 1903 clinging to rocky precipices in torrent driven gorges of Western Sichuan. He almost lost his life in ensuing collection attempts, being lucky enough to escape with only a broken leg! The only danger with these bulbs is in being completely overwhelmed by the sweetest of perfumes that they exude without fail in those already heady days of Christmas! Large white trumpets, rose-purple without
and a canary yellow throat on long arching stems to 2m covered with scattered leaves. FS/1st $4.00 each or 3 for $10.00

rubellum A native of northern Honshu this species shares with another Japanese lily, L. japonicum, the beautiful rose-petal colour so rare in the genus. One of the earliest lilies to bloom, ours were open in late November; the sweetly scented flowers are widely flaring trumpets of the softest pink, often with a few darker spots in the throat. One of our favourites, this lily does best in acid woodland conditions. Limit of 1 per customer FS/1st $16

tsingtauense An uncommon and unusual eastern Chinese species bearing 1 to 6 cup-shaped, upward-facing flowers on a 1m. stem in mid-summer. The blooms, which are thickly textured, are orange-red and spotted maroon and the leaves narrowly oval. A distinctive lily in many respects it prefers a well-drained, acid soil in full sun or part shade. Limit of 1 per customer FS/1st $7.00

trumpet hybrids A lucky dip offering un-flowered hybrid trumpets grown from seed from various sources including the RHS Lily Group and the New Zealand Lily Society - surplus to our needs and our ability to manage! Expect a range of white, cream, lemon, gold and pink, some with green or yellow throats and/or maroon or green reverse. All will be good garden plants and some will be exceptional. FS/1st $5.00 or 3 for $14

vollmeri Also known as the "Leopard Lily", this plant is a more refine d version of the larger flowered Lilium pardalinum. Strongly recurved pendant flowers of burnished orange speckled with a rash of maroon black spots on the inner surfaces. Carries 5 to 15 flowers on a strong 1.5m stem clothed with narrow scattered leaves. It grows in the wetter areas of California and Oregon but it has adapted well to cultivation and presents no problems in the garden. FS/1st $8.00

"Wildfire" A wonderful Australian raised Oriental hybrid that has stood the test of time. Large flat outward facing flowers that measure upwards of 16cm across. These are strongly burnished red with darker spotting and edged white. A dramatic flower that's always in bloom on St Valentine's Day and so can make a divinely scented gift for that special person. FS/1st $6.00

wilsonii var flavum Synge (1980) considers that L. wilsonii is best regarded as a reddish-orange or apricot variation of L. dauricum and reports that there is also a yellow variation. This plant conforms to the description having an up-facing deep citron, cup-shaped flower, heavily spotted maroon towards the base atop 50cm stems. FS/1st $5.00 or 3 for $14

LILY-RELATED SPECIES

Nomocharis x finlayorum Synge describes these plants as having the grace and poise of the most delicate of lilies combined with the fascination and exotic form and markings of an orchid. Their native territory is the mountainous parts of W. China, N. Burma and S.E. Tibet and therefore they appreciate a free root run and good drainage. These offerings are named after the Knox- Finlays of Scotland and will delight with their dainty fringed edges and random dark pink spotting in a paler pink cup. FS/1st $10.00