'L. bakerianum' (Lilium)

A native to Burma and named for its discoverer, the English botanist John G. Baker, Lilium bakerianum has a wide distribution and is quite variable. Woodcock & Stearn's Lilies of the World groups it with at least five variants. Best suited to a cool greenhouse, in nature it has been found at elevations of 10,000 feet or more in the Himalayas where it flourishes. Bulbs rarely last more than two to three seasons under cultivation. The flowers are ivory-white to light yellow, flushed in green on the outside, and are heavily spotted in red-brown. They are pendant in form and are held on 2 to 3 foot stems. Stems can wander for two feet or more underground before emerging. Very old photo courtesy of Ed McRae, we never were able to flower this rare beauty from seed.