Arnold wrote: "I grow both henryi and rosthornii. Rosthornii flowers a bit earlier for me. Both get three to four hours of sun each day. They are strikingly similar and one of the methods to distinguish is the shape of the seed capsules." Right, Arnold. Some of our members may not know the history involved here. Although Lilium rosthornii was named in 1900 (it had been discovered in 1891), it never became well known in the west. In fact, there is some question about whether it was ever known as a live plant in the west until rather recently. Until Chen Yi began to send out bulbs, I think it's fair to say that virtually no one in the west had any real idea of what it was. Early twentieth century books make vague references to its similarity to Lilium henryi, but virtually nothing was really known about it. Some simply regarded it as a synonym of Lilium henryi. If an old photograph exists, I have not seen it. Writing in 1938, Col. Grey said " Collected by A. von Rosthorn in Szechuan in 1891, and unknown since that date." Its reintroduction at the end of the twentieth century caused a real buzz in the lily world. Right away, those who see only the flower could not understand why it wasn't simply Lilium henryi; maybe it is! Lilium henryi itself was discovered by Augustine Henry in 1888 and named by Baker later that year. That was only three years before the discovery of L. rosthornii. Unlike Lilium rosthronii, Lilium henryi made a smooth transition into cultivation. Jim McKenney Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where braised lilies are the order of the day.