Do you have unanswered questions about the genus Lilium? We’ll help you find the answers. Just Contact Us to send your inquiry. Be sure to reference “Ask Lil E. Um” and we’ll find a lily expert with the best advice.

Back to part I 

Why are there so few varieties of trumpet lilies compared to Asiatic lilies? I really like trumpet lilies, I just wish there were more varieties available.
Forrest, St. Louis Park

Hi Forrest,
Thank you for your question. For the answer, we contacted Jeff Stiller, an NSLS member with a particular passion for trumpet lilies, having hybridized many himself. Thank you, Jeff for sharing your knowledge!

Originally, Asiatic hybrids developed from a large gene pool of species lilies. L. davidii, L. lankongenese, L. callosum, L. pumilum, L. taliense, L. duchartrei, and many more. The species were crossed with each other to produce hybrids. Greater combinations of genes led to greater variety in flowers. Trumpet lily hybrids derived from a much smaller gene pool. L. sargentiae, L. leucanthum, L. regale, and L. brownii.

Another theory of what happened was that one clone of L. regale was selected to be propagated. This variety, when crossed, or selfed with it's clones only produced copies. A condition they call apoximis. If other L. regale species had been used, it may be assumed greater variety would have been found.

Now because of the conversion to tetraploid forms, greater numbers or hybrid combinations of trumpet lilies are becoming available. With the additional crosses between divisions, Oriental X trumpets, longiflorums X Asiatics, etc., new colors, shapes and bloom times will be seen. Hardiness will be tested over time.

Jeff Stiller
NSLS

That's a very good question. I've got a few 'lost name tag' lilies, too. I enjoy them just the same, but it is fun to know their names and very useful if you plan to show them. I think your best bet would be to cut a stem in bloom and take it to a North Star Lily Society, (or any regional lily society show) and see if it could be identified by members who grow a wide variety of named cultivars of the genus lilium. If your lily comes into bloom and there is no show to take it to, I'd contact NSLS and ask if there is someone who would be able to take a look at your lily and see if they could identify it. Every regional lily society has members who have extensive experience in growing, showing and hybridizing lilies and they may be able to recognize and name your stem for you. I believe it would be better to bring the actual stem instead of a photograph because there can be a number of subtle differences in lily cultivars that you can see in the actual flower and stem that you might not be able to detect from a photograph. The next North Star Lily Society show will be in July, 2005. Check our website soon for next year's calendar of events.

Best regards!
Denese Erickson
President, North Star Lily Society

Message:   We call them surprise lilies. Is this the correct name? They come up fast in the first week of August. The green dies down and then mowed over after the green turns brown. When should I cut these? Thanks: Joe

Hi Joe,
Surprise lilies is one name. They are also called resurrection lilies, Magic lilies and Naked Ladies because of their pink flower. They are not true lilies, that is, belonging to the genus Lilium.  They belong to the genus Lycoris, and are in the same family as the amaryllis.  Their latin name is 'Lycoris squamigera' and they originated in Japan. Their green strap-like leaves come up in the spring and then die down. Weeks later, the flower appears, seemingly overnight. I would wait until the flowers are done blooming and their stems start to wither, that will allow the plant to complete its full cycle which will help generate the energy needed for next year's appearance.

Best regards,
North Star Lily Society

Thanks alot.
Jan from Plymouth, MN.

Hi Jan,
Isn't it fun to find a beautiful lily with your name on it?? Did you find it by checking out our Minnesota hybrids page? I contacted the hybridizers, Hugh and Ruth Cocker of Rochester. They plan on having Kathy Jan bulbs, along with others they have hybridized, available at our bulb sale on October 16th at the MN Arboretum.

Kathy Jan is named in honor of one of their daughters. A number of the lilies that they have hybridized here in Minnesota are named after their family members. What serendipity that you and your neighbor can share a lily that will remind you of your friendship.
Happy Gardening!
NSLS

Hi Tess,
You are very observant. The little black/brown balls are called 'bulbils' and are actually aerial bulbs born above the ground in the axil or angle between the upper leaf surface and the stem. According to the advice found within the North American Lily Society publication, "Let's Grow Lilies," the bulbils should be "gathered when fat and ripe. Sometimes bulbils will form a leaf and roots while still attached to the stem. These little bulbs may be planted in a furrow like peas, and in a year or two, produce a prodigious amount of good sized bulbs for your garden and to share with friends."

" Let's Grow Lilies" is a wonderful publication jam-packed with great lily growing information and advice. It is complimentary with a North American Lily Society membership - contact www.lilies.org, or it can be purchased for $4.00 at a North Star Lily Society meeting. Our next NSLS meeting will be at our Fall Bulb Sale at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on October 16th.
Best regards,
North Star Lily Society

Message: I am looking for martagon lily seed to start as there has always
seem to be a shortage of martagons for sale. Would you have any sources of
seed?

Best Regards, Ted

Denese Erickson
President, NSLS

Ask Lil E. Um received these questions and with the help of Dr. Gene Fox, North American Lily Society President, sent a quick response to a very happy college student. Here is the email:

Message: Hello, my name is Ashley and I am writing a paper about different flowers and I would like some information about the lily. Please help me with any of these questions that you can.
1) Is the lily sporophytes or gametophytes?
2) Can you see the gametophytes?
3) Is the lily complete?
4) Is the lily perfect?
5) How is the lily pollinated and what clues support your reason?
Thank you so much for your help.
Ashley

Reply: Dear Ashley,
My answers are about lilies (true lilies) as in Latin Lilium
1. Lilies make seeds and are gametophytes. No true lily makes spores, so none are sporophytes.
2. When you say that, I believe you mean, "Can you see the 'gametes?'" One can see the male gamete, which is pollen as it is on the end of anthers and it, can become a brown smudge on your clothes if you are not careful. The pollen is made up of hundreds of tiny spherical grains. One needs a microscope to see the individual grain of pollen. The female gamete is inside the ovary or what becomes the seedpod. If the pods are cut open or dissected before pollination, one can see the female gametes or ovules (eggs).
3. The lily has a "complete" flower in that it has both male and female parts.
4. Yes, lilies have both the pistils and the stamens in the same flower, so it may be said to be "perfect". The word, "monoclinous" is actually the technical term for perfect in that case.
5. The lily is pollinated by transferring the pollen from the stamens of one lily flower to the stigma of another lily flower. One knows the flower is pollinated if, after the petals drop away, the ovary (seed pod) starts to swell up as seeds grow inside it.
Dr. Gene Fox
President, North American Lily Society