Lilium is a large genus in the Liliaceae family. Information and pictures of species on the pbs wiki are found on section pages linked below. This wiki page is for the Candidum Section. Most, but not all of the species in this section are epigeal (have delayed germination). Stems are erect, leaves scattered, bulb scales are numerous, and the seeds heavy.
American Section A-M - American Section N-Z - Asiatic Section A-C - Asiatic Section D-K - Asiatic Section L-O - Asiatic Section P-Z - Dauricum Section - Martagon Section - Oriental Section - Trumpet Section - Lilium Hybrids - Lilium Index
Lilium bulbiferum is a European species with bright orange flowers that blooms in summer. It is named for the stem bulbils it produces above ground. Variety croceum has orange flowers and is the most common form in cultivation. The first photo was taken by Hans Joschko in the French Alps where these plants were growing with Narcissus poeticus along the road from Grenoble to Col de Lautaret. The second photo is from Janos Agoston. Photos 3 and 4 submitted by Darm Crook.
Lilium bulbiferum var. chaixii (Elwes) Stoker This variety occurs in the French Alpes-Maritimes and is by far the shortest of the bulbiferum group growing only to about 32cm (16 inches) tall. It is also that hardest one to grow; it simply appears to have a weaker immune system, thus catching every disease that comes along. It generally flowers with only one floret in zone 1 Canadian scale growing conditions but in good years will have two. The stems grown in Hay River Northwest Territories prefer a slightly alkalined based soil to acidic. It is a very prolific producer of stem bulbils. Three photos submitted by Darm Crook.
Lilium bulbiferum v. croceum (Chaix) Pers. This variety is the easiest one to grow; it is quite disease resistant and seems indifferent to soil pH, within limits of course. It produces no stem bulbils and can, during a good growing season, produce an inflorescence with a double umbel, with each umbel having four to six buds. During germination seeds from the same seed batch, by about a 50/50 split, usually germinate as immediate hypogeal and delayed hypogeal. This germination style split and no stem bulbils indicate that L. bulbiferum v. croceum's true genetic background may not be pure bulbiferum. Four photos submitted by Darm Crook.
Photos below from Darm Crook are of seedlings that resulted from a cross of L. bulbiferum v. chaixii × L. bulbiferum v. croceum. The cross was made in an effort to save features of v. chaixii but also introduce some disease resistance into it. The resulting seedlings have a little resemblance to v. chaixii in the florets colouration and do produce stem bulbils. They are closer to v. croceum in floret form and plant stature as they grow to a height of 82cm (40 inches). They have much better resistance to botrytis than v. bulbiferum or the varieties chaixii and croceum have.
Lilium candidum, Madonna lily, is native to the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean. It has been cultivated for many years, and can be grown in most zones. This species has fragrant white flowers with a yellow base and blooms from late spring to early summer. It then dies down and therefore is best planted in late summer when dormant and should be barely covered with soil as it does not have stem roots. A rosette of leaves appears in the autumn and lives over winter. This species prefers limey soil and is not long lived as it is prone to disease. Photos from Janos Agoston.
Lilium monadelphum is from the Caucasus on forest margins and slopes. The seed germination pattern is delayed hypogeal. It can grow to over 120cm (4feet) and have up to 24 strong but sweet scented down facing florets which range in colour from rich yellow to near white with lilac to black spotting or be spot free. It is an early flowering, cold hardy and disease resistant species, and as such an excellent candidate for areas that have a short growing season. Many say a lily is not L. monadelphum unless the pollen is yellow and the anthers are fused into a tube at their base (the name monadelphum derives from this arrangement). Botanists have now decided that this is not the case and that the formally classified lilies of Lilium szovitsianum and Lilium kesselringianum are simply geographic variants of Lilium monadelphum. These two lilies have pollen that is other then yellow and the anthers are not fused at the base. The first photo from Arnold Trachtenberg is of a plant grown in New Jersey. Photos 2 to 10 submitted by Darm Crook. The last photo is of Lilium szovitsianum by John Lykkegaard Johansen.
Lilium pyrenaicum is native to Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus, named for the Pyrenees in France. Naturalised in England and Scotland. Photos by Roger Darlington of it growing wild in Langdale in the Lake District.
Lilium pyrenaicum ssp. ponticum ((K.Koch) V.A.Matthews) is considered by Kew and Tropicos data bases to be a synonym for Lilium ponticum. From Turkey and Georgia it grows 40 to 75cm (16 to 30 inches) tall. The foliage leaves are wide and short with fine hairs along margins of the upper side and veins on the lower side. The florets are in a small pendent form, yellow, spotted with spots as well as dashes plus a purple to brown or near black throat and in the center area orange pollen. The tepal backs are flushed with purple near their base. It grows well in dappled shade. Flowers have a pleasent scent. Five seedling photos by Darm Crook.
American Section A-M - American Section N-Z - Asiatic Section A-C - Asiatic Section D-K - Asiatic Section L-O - Asiatic Section P-Z - Dauricum Section - Martagon Section - Oriental Section - Trumpet Section - Lilium Hybrids - Lilium Index