LILIES - RHS Lily Group

Right, Lilium chalcedonicum,
individual with 10 flowers
grown in the author’s private
garden in Denmark, originally
from Mt Olympus.
1st August, 1980.
every three years, and hundreds
of plants are now in cultivation
from this introduction. They
are fully hardy and cultivation
is not difficult although it may
be necessary to watch out for lily beetles. Peak flowering is usually around
1 August, and because of the late flowering seeds are not always produced.
5. Lilium rhodopeum
This is the rarest and least known of the Greek lilies. It was first discovered in 1951
in the Rodhopi mountains of southern Bulgaria and described in the following
year. It has subsequently been found in a few more localities in this area as well
as south of the border, growing in secondary pastures in clearings of coniferous
or beech forest at altitudes between 1200 and 1800 m (see pp.25). It is a stout
plant, 40-90 cm tall, appearing from a large bulb with plump whitish scales. The
stem is covered with scattered lanceolate leaves almost up to the flowers. The
latter are conspicuously large (8-14 cm in diameter) with a long slender base and
Lilium Distribution martagon of
Distribution of
Lilium chalcedonicum
Lilium martagon
Lilium chalcedonicum
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