Today: Lycoris and Lilium formosanum
James Waddick (Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:05:31 PDT)

Dear Friends,
With days hovering well over 90 and nights only cooling to 80
or so, it is hard time to bloom up a show, but Lycoris continue their
parade of hybrids. Some pale yellow (chinensis x sprengeri) just
opened today while L. incarnata are at peak in some quite large
clumps of dozens of stems. The L. chinensis are going down while the
L. longituba and squamigera are down to their last few blossoms.
Stiill no signs of L. caldwellii, the next on schedule.

Almost every faded bloom shows signs of swelling ovaries.
Lycoris are quick to set seed or suggest they might. I have mentioned
before and there are literature reports of the occasional seed on L
squamigera, but I know of NO reports of successfully germinated
seedlings. Pods swell very fast and ripe seed will be ready in a few
weeks.

I do have a single clump of an odd Lycoris discovered in a
large planting of typical L. squamigera. It blooms after L.
squamigera and the color is closer to orange than pink, but I think
it is some odd hybrid, not a seedling of L. squamigera. It surely
contains L. sprengeri, but what else? The color is unique and
exceptionally attractive.

At the other end of the garden a few self sown seedlings of
Lilium formosanum began blooming yesterday. The seedlings in less
than perfect locations are about 3 to 4 feet tall, but one seedling
back in slightly more shade and protection has three huge pendant
blooms today (more buds to open) nodding from an 8 foot tall stem.!
Its height is impressive and it is great although the plants with
shorter stems make for easier appreciation of the scent.

There has been discussion about the genetics of stem height.
I do not doubt this is true, but certainly cultivation and
microclimate contribute greatly. The seedlings above all come from a
limited gene pool and grow a few feet from each other. A novice
might be tempted to ask if they are different cvs, clones or species!

We could sure use some rain to get those late Lycoris 'moving'.

Best Jim W.

--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +