Treasured Blooms: Lilies of Great Worth

So many lilies have been developed in the past few years that an estimate of their worth seems opportune. 

Although my present concern is with certain newer ones, it does not follow that those left out, either new or old, are discredited.

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On the contrary, by pointing out the virtues of some of the more recent introductions, I hope to encourage wider use of them together with the more familiar sorts and more uncommon species. 

Most Charming Lily Garden

Full enjoyment of the lovely lily may be had only if some of the old are grown along with the new. 

Surely, the most charming lily garden must contain both and be made by one who is not so conventional that he lacks the spirit of adventure. 

No doubt, a great many people think of the lily as white and prefer it so. This attitude has been induced by literature, the lavish use of the Lilium longiflorum at Easter time and, in more recent times, especially by Lilium regale. 

It is my opinion that with the introduction of the latter some 35 years ago, all lilies gained in popularity and that L. regale, more than anything else, promoted the cause of lilies. 

However, as widely as it is grown today, the many new hybrids (some of the regale lily line) are bound to supersede it because of their greater virility, height, and larger blooms with better placement on pyramidal heads. 

Green Mountain Hybrids

The Green Mountain hybrids, developed by the late Dr. L. Horsford Abel, are numbered among the improved types. 

They are magnificent, tall trumpets of mixed family ancestry but “regal” withal. Miss Preston’s G. L. Creelman (Princeps) is yet another. 

It makes a sturdy 5-foot plant with long buds washed reddish brown which opens into large, yellow-throated white flowers. It blooms a little later than the regale. 

Lilium Sulphurdale

Lilium sulphurdale was developed from a cross made many years ago, but many of its progeny are still flourishing-making vigorous seedlings with tall, graceful pyramidal heads. 

This is one of the best performers in the L. regale, hybrid class. Still, others are the specific varieties of L. sargentiae and L. centifolia and Jan de Graaff’s new Olympic strain of centifolia hybrids. 

Hardy varieties of Lilium longiflorum or Easter lily now make it possible to grow this favored flower in the open in many parts of the country. 

Estate Lily and Slocum’s Ace

In my western New York garden, I have had moderate success with a few varieties but have found all susceptible to basal rot. 

One of the best of these is called the Estate lily. It has a taller form than the Croft, is somewhat hardier, and is also a fine greenhouse subject. 

Another is Slocum’s Ace, developed by Clark Slocum of Oregon. It is fairly resistant to botrytis and bears very large blooms on stems rarely more than 2’ feet high. 

I’ve grown another from seed for several years, the Australian variety Snowdrift dwarf. It has thick, sturdy stems and multiplies rapidly from stem bulblets that form just under the soil. 

Lilium Candidum – Madonna Lily

Lilium candidum, the Madonna lily, also has been improved. Available are new, seed-grown varieties of Salonika and the Cascade strain. 

The older, imported sorts of this old-time favorite were propagated exclusively by vegetative means and long were thought to carry disease into our gardens. 

Lilium Auratum Esperanza

So numerous are the Aurelianensis seedling hybrids (L. henryi x L. sargentiae) that I can only recommend them as a class. 

They are offered in a wide range of white, cream, ivory, yellow, and buff shapes. Nearly all that I have seen or grown up with is beautiful. All are sought after by specialists and amateurs, too.

Lilium auratum Esperanza seedlings, 50 exhibited at the 1951 New York Lily Show, are wonderful. 

These new seed-grown groups of Goldband lilies vary considerably in size, form, color, and markings. 

Many have been named and are listed at high prices. However, the general run of these lilies may be obtained at more reasonable prices. 

New Group Of Lilium Speciosum

Mr. Frank Wilson of Washington has introduced a new group of L. speciosum album seedlings. 

These are much sturdier than others and have mammoth, pure-white blooms. 

Some shown at last year’s Lily Show at Buffalo won top honors. They are, indeed, a great creation. 

The three bulbs I planted produced six stems, each 4’ feet tall. Yellow lilies always light up the garden. 

Golden Chalice Hybrids

An early, upright group introduced by de Graaff of Oregon is recommended. They’re called Golden Chalice hybrids and, as the name implies, are clear, sparkling yellow, and cup-shaped. 

Some are delicately spotted at the throat. Others are spotless. Lilium hansonii, although an old lily, is so dependable and disease-free that it should be grown more. 

Marhan Group at the Last Lily Show

It has been used for several years to parent some of our more desirable hybrids such as the Marhans developed by R. 0. Backhouse of England. 

These are tall, with 4 to 6-foot stems bearing numerous, thick-petaled flowers in late June. Mostly they are in shades of yellow and orange.

Scepter, Sutton Court, and Brocade of the Marhan group were displayed at the last Lily Show. 

I believe Brocade, a clear, deep yellow with pink marbling, attracts more attention at shows than any other lily I know. 

Lilium Amabile Luteum

Lilium Amabile luteum is getting more plentiful, and the price is down now to the point where more gardeners may buy and grow this beautiful sister plant of the well-liked red L. Amabile.

In the pink class, the new seed-grown Oregon strains of speciosum are far superior to the older imported varieties. 

They live a long life because, for one thing, they are more disease-resistant. 

Bulbs of the Oregon Giant have done exceptionally well in this locality, as has the newer Peterson, one of Leslie Woodriff’s pink speciosus.

For the past two years, this has bloomed wonderfully in my garden. It gets to be about 5’ feet tall, flowers in mid-August, making 15 to 20 well-spaced, large, pinkish-white lilies. It increases rapidly from stem bulblets. 

Bulb-Producing Types

Many newer reds of exceptional quality are now on the market. Three of Canadian origin, Brenda Watts, Red Bird, and Cardinal, are favorites of mine. 

The last two have the advantage of being bulb-producing types that aid in propagating these beautiful but still high-priced varieties. 

One of the Stokes English hybrids, another outstanding new red admired by all, is Fire King, a massive vermilion-scarlet beauty with 5-foot stems and upwards of 15 outward-facing blooms. This is said to be the most vividly colored lily in cultivation.

New Patented Lily

Enchantment, a new patented lily from de Graaff’s Mid-Century hybrids, is among the many new upright lilies. It has vivid, nasturtium-red flowers. 

Improvements have been made by breeders in the orange and orange-red classes. F. L. Skinner’s Maxwell is a very dependable addition. 

Its stiff, wiry stem often bears as many as 30 orange-red blooms. Unlike many of the West Coast lilies, the Bellingham hybrids come in various shades of orange and do very well in the East.

Vigorous Hybrids

More new lilies are on the way. I have many of these for testing purposes, as have others in different sections all over the country. 

Hybridizers are working to develop vigorous hybrids from the weaker sorts; immunity to disease; broad open blooms and shorter trumpets; as many colors as possible. 

In several places throughout the country, gardeners have complained of experiencing difficulty of one kind or another with some varieties. 

Tests are being conducted to discover why and correct the reason for the difficulty. Moreover, the production of more types that produce aerial bulbils is the aim of some hybridizers.

Although the last 10 years have seen vast strides in developing better lilies, the next few should show even greater progress and produce even more lilies of great worth. 

44659 by Warren L. Inskip