This is a seedling of Lilium philippinensis (from seed provided by Will Ashburner), sown 20 October 1999 in an outdoor mist bench, emergence was seen about 2 weeks later. The seedlings were transplanted in December to peat pots and remained in a shade shelter over winter and through most of the spring. They were then planted in beds in a shade shelter in Davis in June 2000...since then temps have frequently been well above 37 C (98 F). The flowers are on 15 to 25 cm stems. All seedlings appear to have white flowers only.
Roy Sachs (Aug 21, 2001)
This species was grown from seed supplied by Will Ashburner in October 1999. They have been grown in Davis, CA in a 30% shade shelter where temperatures (until recently) routinely exceeded 40 C (>100F) and were subjected to dry winds. They are in full bloom now; this at least one month earlier than in 2000. But everything here and at the cooler Russian River location seems to be one month in advance (senescence is apparent in most of the summer bloomers). Last year inflorescence axes were barely 25 cm tall and usually bore 1 to 2 florets. This year inflorescence axes are usually 1.5 m to 2 m tall and the biggest have up to 12 florets (arranged apparently in three whorls of 4 florets per whorl). Each floret is a 15 cm tube, purest of whites, with a beautiful aroma (not overpowering as some of the tubular lilies that I have grown). It makes an excellent cut flower. I'll work on getting better photos of this prize!
Roy M. Sachs (Aug 21, 2001)
