Lilium Henryii

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 14 (Supplement)

Lilium Henryii

THOUGH one of the most recent introduced lilies, it has rapidly taken a foremost place among the popular varieties. Introduced from Central China, it is a vigorous and beautiful lily of the soundest constitution, requiring no special care or preparation, and seemingly indifferent to soil and situation.

Lilium Henryii is a good example of how many wild plants alter their growth under cultivation. In the wild state this lily is seldom found growing more than four feet high or bearing more than four or five flowers, yet it is no uncommon thing to find this lily in gardens nine feet high and carrying up to 20 of its beautiful, orangecoloured blooms.

It is easily raised from seed, which germinates the first year, and, being unusually quick in growth, seedlings will bear a flower the second <>r third vear.

The bulbs keep growing in size till they are as much as eight inches in diameter; they do not split up much, but throw off quite a number of offsets which Boon grow into flowering bulbs.

The bulbs should be planted about a foot deep and owing to its habit of growth it is best planted among the taller-growing shrubs such as Rhododendron. Choisya Ternata, or Berberis Darwinii, which will give support to the tapering stems so peculiar in that they are naturally too lax to grow upright and, in consequence, awkward to stake conveniently.

L. Henryii grows equally well in sunshine or shade, though the blooms blanch a little in hot summers if ftillv exposed; it is .a thirsty plant when growing.