Lilium is a large genus in the Liliaceae family. This wiki page is for the Asiatic Section from P-Z.
Asiatic Section A-C - Asiatic Section D-K - Asiatic Section L-O
Other Lilium sections and hybrids are linked below.
American Section A-M - American Section N-Z - Candidum Section - Dauricum Section - Martagon Section - Oriental Section - Trumpet Section - Lilium Hybrids - Lilium Index
Lilium papilliferum is from the North West of the Yunnan province of China, its common name is the 'Likiang lily'. Its latin name derives from the papillose surface of its stem. Up to three scented flowers are borne 60cm high. Photographs by John Lykkegaard Johansen.
Lilium polyphyllum grows in the Himalayas from Afghanistan through Kashmir to Kumaon at 1800 to 3700 metres. The name means 'many leaved'. The bulbs are sold as a herbal "cure all" medicine. Photographs by Mana Chandhok taken in Gangotri National Forest, India showing the species growing at an elevation of 10,500 ft to 12,000 ft in heavy granite dust at slope of about 50 degrees. This area is snowed in from November to April.
Lilium primulinum takes its name from the primrose (Primula vulgaris) yellow color of its flowers. A common name is the "Ocher (ochre) lily". It is found in Burma (Myanmar), China (Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan) and Thailand up to 3000m. Accepted varieties are Lilium primulinum var. burmanicum (greenish yellow flowers spotted with purple), Lilium primulinum var. ochraceum (syn. Lilium majoense) (wine purple flowers with greenish ocher tips) and Lilium primulinum var. primulinum (only found in Burma, flowers wholly yellow with no blotches). Plants grow 2m high with up to eight flowers in a raceme. Photographs by John Lykkegaard Johansen; the second one shows 'Rock's variety' and the third Lilium majoense.
Lilium pumilum is an Asian lily (North Korea, Manchuria, and Mongolia) with red pendent flowers. It seems to be easily grown in a well watered garden. These first two photos were taken May 2004 by Bob Rutemoeller at Kew Gardens, United Kingdom; the second is not as clear but shows the form. The third photo, by John Longanecker, is of a lightly sweet scented container plant grown in Placerville, CA.
Lilium rosthornii is native to Sichuan, Hubei and Guizhou. It grows in mountain ravines, by streams and woodland, at 350 to 900 meters above sea level. It differs from Lilium henryi in having an oblong seed capsule. Photo by Arnold Trachtenberg. Photos two to five by Darm Crook.
Lilium taliense is a beautiful and fragrant Turk's Cap lily that grows to 1.5 metres tall. The species is found in north-west Yunnan, China. Photographed by David Victor near Zhongdian, Yunnan, in July 2005.
Lilium taliense var. kaichen This variety name is not officially recognized and may never be. It was given to this lilium as a nick name and most lily growers have come to know it as such. This version of L. taliense is from China; it has an open raceme inflorescence, with down facing fully recurved florets on long pedicels. The flowers are basically white with a yellow face and have dark green to near black nectary grooves. Each tepal has a band of brown spotting running along its edges. This lilium struggles in a zone 1 garden, never having more then four florets or exceeding heights of 92cm (3 feet). Five photos by Darm Crook.
Lilium wardii is from Tibet and likes a rather dry environment. It will grow to a heigth of 150cm (5 feet). The pink with carmine spotted flowers are sweetly scented and set on long but drooping pedicels in a raceme inflorescence. It is named after Frank Kingdon-Ward who first collected it. Photo by Darm Crook
Lilium wenshanense identifed as a separate species as late as 1990, this lily is named for Wenshan in the Yunnan province of China where it is found in meadows at 1500m. The stems are 1 to 2m tall, as many as seven scented flowers grow in a raceme. Photographs by John Lykkegaard Johansen.
Lilium xanthellum is a rarely cultivated species, though it is easy to grow. It grows wild in China. The plant shown is about 6 feet high though it is a rather young plant. Photo by Denis Barthel.
American Section A-M - American Section N-Z - Asiatic Section A-C - Asiatic Section D-K - Asiatic Section L-O - Candidum Section - Dauricum Section - Martagon Section - Oriental Section - Trumpet Section - Lilium Hybrids - Lilium Index