'Lilium pomponium'
(Species / Wild Lily)
This European native can be found growing in the European Maritime Alps of France and Italy on steep south facing slopes in dry, limestone crags. The flowers are Turk's Cap in form and are a rich red lead color, marked with small, black spots. It can be cultivated as long as its needs for a well drained, heavy limy soil are met, but it is difficult. Be ready for numerous setbacks, this is a trial and error lily. Seed described as epigeal in germination but finely adapted to its local environment. Woodcock & Stearn (1950) reports "It has long been known in gardens, being described by Clusius in 1601 and Parkinson in 1629".
Photo inset #1 is L. pomponium with our native 'Oregon Grape' (Mahonia aquifolium) in the background.
Photo inset #2 is of a deeper red form of L. pomponium as flowered and photographed by Gene Mirro in June of 2012. Copyright Gene Mirro, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
This page is for reference only, not as an offer to sell species bulbs or seeds.
This European native can be found growing in the European Maritime Alps of France and Italy on steep south facing slopes in dry, limestone crags. The flowers are Turk's Cap in form and are a rich red lead color, marked with small, black spots. It can be cultivated as long as its needs for a well drained, heavy limy soil are met, but it is difficult. Be ready for numerous setbacks, this is a trial and error lily. Seed described as epigeal in germination but finely adapted to its local environment. Woodcock & Stearn (1950) reports "It has long been known in gardens, being described by Clusius in 1601 and Parkinson in 1629".
Photo inset #1 is L. pomponium with our native 'Oregon Grape' (Mahonia aquifolium) in the background.
Photo inset #2 is of a deeper red form of L. pomponium as flowered and photographed by Gene Mirro in June of 2012. Copyright Gene Mirro, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
This page is for reference only, not as an offer to sell species bulbs or seeds.
