Lilium 2009

[Ragged Robin]

Gorgeous Lilium, I agree, Armin your shots of the L martagon are really super - it is quite difficult to get the focus right and the colour balance but here are two of my recent efforts flowering in my sister-in-law's garden in Scotland in different situations.  Photo one in the herbaceous border full sunlight, photo two in the dappled shade rhododendron area.  Both looked spectacular 

[gote]

Gorgeous Lilium, I agree, Armin your shots of the L martagon are really super - it is quite difficult to get the focus right and the colour balance but here are two of my recent efforts flowering in my sister-in-law's garden in Scotland in different situations.  Photo one in the herbaceous border full sunlight, photo two in the dappled shade rhododendron area.  Both looked spectacular 

You have the caption 'martagon' but surely these are not martagons but pyrenaicum or something similar. they are very good anyway.
Göte

[Rafa]

Fantastic everybody! lucky gardeners!....

Last week I checked 5 locations of Lilium pyrenaicum in the wild looking for "rubrum" forms and all were yellow. Anyway it was an amazing sight,  Lilium pyrenaicum mixed with Lilium martagon.

keeping posting this marvellous species, I love this genus!

[Ragged Robin]

oops! thanks for the correction Gote 

[johnw]

After 3 attempts at importing and trying to establish Lilium 'Mrs. R.O. Backhouse' one from Sweden has finally decided to open a flower today. Unfortunately it is the white form of L. martagon.   'Mrs. R.O. Backhouse' doesn't seem to available in North America, at least here and the real thing.  Has anyone found it difficult or rare?  I have heard it is a common and a very good do-er in Scandinavia.  Most maddening.

johnw

[Lori S.]

John, while I can't verify that it is, indeed, the "real thing", 'Mrs. R. O. Backhouse' has been available in this area for the last couple of decades... (by which I mean, since the time I started gardening, i.e. taking notice.    
(While I've never acquired that particular variety, martagons are generally very hardy, and easy to grow here, and hence, relatively popular across the prairies.  There is also quite a lot of martagon breeding going on, in these parts, as well, which is fitting with considerable amount of asiatic lily breeding that's also gone on, on the prairies.  )

Here is one down-home supplier; from the photo in the website, perhaps you can judge whether it is the real deal or not:
http://www.parkland-perennials.com/cat/section.php?id=5&sc=0

What do you think?  

(By the way, the wonderful photos of martagons have reminded me that mine will be over a month late this year, when they finally start to bloom!)

[Lvandelft]

Today at Weekly Lisse Flowershow there was one Lily entry with the following note:

This edible Lilium was bought as a dry bulb on the market in Sichuan in June 2007.
It shows some affinity with Lilium davidii.

I hope somebody is able to tell more about the species.
This plant was grown in a pot and ca. 40 cm. high.

[Lesley Cox]

Oh dear, poor lily, so sad to be edible.

Elena, your martagons are really wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

I don't think the foliage on Robin's is quite right for pyrenaicum, but perhaps a hybrid?

[Maggi Young]

A propos the edible chinese lily: I 've had this message sent to me.......thanks Trilian15 !

Hello SRGC/Lilium 2009 discussion,


The finest Chinese edible lily bulb, the Lanzhou Lily, should be available in some Asian/Chinese markets in Europe.
The species is Lilium davidii var unicolor / more information: www.lzbh.gov.cn
If any of you is lactose-intolerant like me, you would be very interested in the high level of B2 in bulbs.
There are other edible lily bulbs too, but this is said to be the best of all.


All the best,
trilian15

The website is in Chinese... but the photos are the clue!! I am off tomorrow to the local Chinese supermarket..... I've seen those packs there but din't recognise them!!

[gote]

I can only agree lilium davidii.
I think that it would be quite possible to grow Lilium lancifolium or bulbiferum to edible size at a reasonable cost (for a delicatessen) .
Bulbiferum will be of the size of a common onion i a couple of years
Göte.

[Lvandelft]

Thank you so much Maggi. I'll pass this message to the exhibitor and to KAVB.
Must have a look in Chinese toko's here in the cities. There are several not too far away.
Don't know if they are real delicatessen but for sure something different from chocolate 

The Website picture looks like the same lily and the growing field is gorgeous.

[johnw]

John, while I can't verify that it is, indeed, the "real thing", 'Mrs. R. O. Backhouse' has been available in this area for the last couple of decades... (by which I mean, since the time I started gardening, i.e. taking notice.    
(While I've never acquired that particular variety, martagons are generally very hardy, and easy to grow here, and hence, relatively popular across the prairies.  There is also quite a lot of martagon breeding going on, in these parts, as well, which is fitting with considerable amount of asiatic lily breeding that's also gone on, on the prairies.  )

Here is one down-home supplier; from the photo in the website, perhaps you can judge whether it is the real deal or not:
http://www.parkland-perennials.com/cat/section.php?id=5&sc=0

What do you think?  

(By the way, the wonderful photos of martagons have reminded me that mine will be over a month late this year, when they finally start to bloom!)

Lori  - Thanks for the link. While the description says a few spots, the photo show many more than the photo I have from Sweden.  It would be interesting to hear what others think.

Some great lily work so being done out your way.

By the way the martagons were just starting to come out in the BG in St John's today.

johnw

[Paul T]

While everyone has martagons blooming..... at the end of the season if anyone has spare seed of assorted colours etc to spare, could I beg or trade for some please?  I would very much like to grow some of these from seed (or any of the turk's cap types for that matter, as I just love the flower form).  I realise that is a way off yet, given we're only just coming into flowering, but I thought it best to "plant" the idea now. 

Thoroughly enjoying the Lilium photos everyone.  Thank you all for posting. 

[Lori S.]

John, here is a description from the Lily Register of 'Mrs R. O. Backhouse', if it is helpful... (mind you, I always find these descriptions do leave a considerable margin for variation, e.g. amount of spotting in many cases)....
 http://www.lilyregister.com/register/details.php?id=2075

The site also shows a photo which is, however, unverified.

[gote]

While everyone has martagons blooming..... at the end of the season if anyone has spare seed of assorted colours etc to spare, could I beg or trade for some please?  I would very much like to grow some of these from seed (or any of the turk's cap types for that matter, as I just love the flower form).  I realise that is a way off yet, given we're only just coming into flowering, but I thought it best to "plant" the idea now. 

Start reminding me in August. It is easily accomplished to send seed but martagon takes a few years from seed to flower.
Göte