Description
Lilium ledebourii is known only from a few scattered localities in Iran and adjacent Azerbaijan, but this is surely one of the loveliest of the genus. Strong spikes can carry 15 of the stunning flowers, which at first appear to be white.
Closer examination reveals firstly a lovely perfume and secondly that each petal has a greenish yellow centre with just a few spickles of red-purple scattered around with the slightest trace of pale pink on the inside of the inner petals. The anthers, for you cannot miss them, stand out in fire-engine red.
A wonderful species but rare in the wild and very little seen in cultivation, which is surprising as it is both worthy and easy, in a well-drained humus rich soil in half shade, lime or mildly acid seem equally good.
Bulbs from seed of a strain perhaps connected with Ann Ala’s original collection in Iran but this is suspected, from the dates it is traceable to, rather than a proven, direct link.
