Arnold asked, >Jane: > >I can't tell you where I read it but it seems lilies are strictly ( >naturally occurring) a northern hemisphere genus. I would also be >interested in how close to the equator lilies occur naturally. True, the genus is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. I believe the most wild population closest to the Equator is L. wallichianum var. neilgherrense, which is reported to grow in southern India near 10 degrees north latitude. However, it grows at 1830 to 2600 meters elevation in the Nilgiri Hills, so like the southern California species, it's probably accustomed at least to cool nights. Jane McGary