Things are happening so fast in the lily world that it is almost impossible to keep up with them. Older varieties appear in improved forms. Hybrid lilies show new colors and shapes that are definitely different. "Impossible crosses" are setting viable seeds.
Unless we are very well informed, the hybrids keep us guessing about their kind and kin. The names are a key in some cases, as for instance Lilium sulphurgale is a hybrid between L. sulphureum called L. myriophyllum) and L. Regale. L. marhan resulted from a cross of L. martagon and L. hansoni. In other instances they tell us little as for example Bellingham Hybrids or Green Mountain Hybrids.
Lilium princeps, L. Shelburne, Geo. C. Creelman, L. sulphurgale, Crow's Hybrids and Green Mountain Hybrids all have the royal blood of L. regale in their veins. L. sergeantme was the other parent of the Princeps and Shelburne Hybrids. Geo. C. Creelman is a selected clone of L. princeps. Crow's Hybrids were produced by crossing L. leucanthum var. centifolium on L. sulphurgale. The Green Mountain Hybrids are of mixed parentage of the above-mentioned hybrids. When a number of seedlings are grown from each of these varieties, one notes a difference even in the same variety for one can never tell for sure what a hybrid lily seed will decide to be. Perhaps it is the throat coloring that varies, or the exterior shading, the shape of the blossom or the time of blooming. All are lovely white trumpet forms. In the hybrids one finds the flowering stems distributed more gracefuly up and down the top of the stalk which is more pleasing than the cartwheel effect of L. regale. It is possible there are more hybrids than the phalaenopsis orchid but I am not sure.
Lily authorities gave the name Lilium leaucanthum var. centifolium to another lovely trumpet lily. The Centifolium Hybrids and Centifolium Olympic Hybrids resulted from a cross of this lily with others such as Geo. C. Creelman, L. sergeantme, L. browni and L. regale.
The Havemeyer Hybrids were produced by crossing Liliuni myriophyllum L. sulphureum) and L.henryi. This hybrid and seedlings from this hybrid vary in color, size and form. Some are very similar to the Aurelian Lilies (L. aurelianense) which resulted from crossing L. saryentiae with L. henryi. Watch for new developments of this lily. Some unusual forms and colors have appeared including spectacular yellow trumpets. They are sometimes offered as Henryi Hybrids. Other names used are Sunburst-these resemble Henryi in shape but are larger in colors of white, cream yellow and orange; Heart's Desire - widely flared, bowl-shaped in white, cream and yellow-orange. Many of these have bright orange throats, shading to cream yellow at the tips of the petals. The Golden Clarion group are trumpet-shaped in colors of clear butter yellow or cream yellow.
The Backhouse (pronounced Bac'- us) Hybrids were made by crossing Lilium martagon and its varieties with L. hansoni. Brocade, Golden Orb, Mrs. R. 0. Backhouse, Septre and Sutton Court are named varieties of this cross. The blossoms are small ranging in color from pale ivory to gold, pink, mauve and orange, individually flushed and marked. Other martagon-hansoni hybrids are known as L. dahlhansoni, L. Guinea Gold and L. marhan.
The Preston Hybrids including the Stenographer Se:ies were developed by using pollen from Lilium daeriram on L. davidi var. willmottiae. Thase are brilliantly colored lilies and very hardy. The following are named varieties: Coronation. Hurriean, Mosquito, Spitfire, Typhoon, Brenda Watts, Edna Kean, Grace Marshall, Lillian Cummings, Lyla McCann and Muriel Condie. A group of lilies, seedlings of L. umbellatum and L. elegans, in sparkling colors from palest straw-yellow to deepest gold, through orange and red, are known as Rainbow Hybrids. They have erect flowers of good size and are comfortingly hardy.
Fireking has flowers that "look at one," the color a brilliant vermilion-scarlat with purple spots. It is interesting to trace its ancestry. It was produced by crossing L. umbellatum (commonly called the candlestick lily) with L. willcrovidi. The latter is a hybrid of L. willmottiae and L. crovidi. L. crovoidi is a cross between L. croceunt and L. davidi. (Are you still there!) L. srottiae is another outward facing lily - the color is a salmon-orange, flecked lavishly with deep purple. Its parents are L. davidi var. willmotiae and L. urabellatunt Mahogany. This is an easy lily and very free blooming. One we enjoy in the evenings strolling through the garden lit up from our solar landscape lights.
Lillium tigrinum and L. umbellatvm were crossed and produced a vigorous type which do not require staking called the Mid-Century Lilies. The., vary from 2 to 5 feet in height, from wide-open outward-facing flowers to upright, cup-shaped. All have a bit of the Tiger Lily's pinkish cast added to coppery gold such as Valencia, or to nasturtion red of enchantment, or subdued orange of Pagoda. Other named ones of this type that are available are Bonanza, Campfire, Fireflame, Parade, Vagabond and Serenade.
Golden Chalice Hybrids (an urnbellatum-dauricum strain) are dwarf, early, cup-sht.ped lilies, ranging in colors from clear lemon yellow to gold and apricot orange. Flamingo and Radiance are two named ones of this strain. Fiesta Hybrids are apparently of uncertain origin. This martagon type was thus named because of their cheerful appearance. They grow. four to six feet tall and have bell-shaped pendant blossoms, slightly spotted with petals of, golden yellow, through orange and red to deepest maroon.
Lilium concolor has been crossed with some of the large, cup-shaped upright species. Further work in breeding has resulted in a strain of tall upright flowering plants that are to be offered as the Hollywood Hybrids, the named ones to bear the name of a film star.
