Lilium regale

Lilium regale
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Liliaceae
Genus:	Lilium
Species:	L. regale
Binomial name
Lilium regale E.H.Wilson

Lilium regale is a trumpet flowered lily, native to western Szechuan in China. It was introduced to England in 1903 by Ernest Henry Wilson.

It is a long-lived, stem-rooting bulbous plant. The leaves are borne at irregular intervals on the stem. Plants grow up to 2 meters high, though 1.2 to 1.5 meters is more common in the garden. The flowers are 14 cm long, funnel or trumpet shaped, white with yellow throat, flushed purple outside. There is a pure white variety, L. r. album. Stamens are prominent. The flowers are strongly fragrant, especially at night.

Cultivation

Detail of flower

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Lilium regale its Award of Garden Merit. It is among the easiest lilies to grow in most temperate climate gardens. It tolerates most soils, except ones prone to waterlogging. It may naturalise in suitable conditions. It can also be grown in large containers. The bulbs themselves are very hardy, but the shoots appear early in the season and may be damaged by frost. Plants can be raised from seed, and often flower in their second year. The main pest is the Scarlet Lily Beetle, the larvae of which may cause complete defoliation. Stems may require staking to support the large blooms.

References

The European Garden Flora (1986).

• Efloras.org, Flora of China: Lilium
• RHSlilygroup.org