Black Beauty Lily Bulbs

"Black Beauty" is a cross between two very important wild lilies, and that's why it's often grouped with other species lilies, and considered a garden treasure. Both parents are from the Orient. Lilium speciosum var rubrum was crossed with L. Henryi, to achieve Black Beauty, and many believe it was one of the most revolutionary and successful hybridizations in botanical history. This garden magic was accomplished by the legendary American lily expert, Leslie Woodriff in 1957.

Whatever you think of the lily, it has been a gardener's favorite from the beginning, and still competes with all the lavish new hybrids today. It is truly incredible in an arrangement. Another huge plus is its hardiness and dependability. Most anywhere in the US, a few bulbs planted this year will result in a widening and enlarging clump, often becoming practically a forest of lily stems. And in late summer when they bloom--with 15-40 flowers per stem--the show is like a rainstorm of gorgeous red bells, bobbing in the wind. There is only one Black Beauty lily, and no garden or wild meadow should be without it.

Photos A and B are of "wild" or species lilies. Photo A is the old favorite, orange Tiger Lily, one of the best for wild meadows since it is tough, dependably perennial and will grow in almost any soil. Photo B is the incredibly beautiful Regal Lily, Lilium regale, discovered years ago growing wild in China. It has been used to create a whole new group of hybrids.

Photo C shows how beautifully almost any lily works in a mixed garden or with other flowers in a vase. The stunning yellow bi-colored lily shown with red daylilies and gladiolus is the popular Asiatic Hybrid, "Grand Cru".

"Wild" Lilies or "Species" Lilies These are the true wildflowers from the world over. They are the ones all the glamorous hybrids are descended from. We're fortunate to have some of these botanical treasures on our list of lilies this season.

Oriental Hybrid Lilies are the now famous, very fragrant ones with large, flattened flowers such as red Star Gazer and white Casa Blanca. These are the ones now so popular in the floral trade, but are also very easy to grow. They bloom from mid-summer through early fall. Most have very large, outward-facing, fragrant flowers.

Asiatic Hybrid Lilies are today's largest group of garden lilies, quite easy to "naturalize". This growing group of lilies was begun by hybridizers in the US, and were first called "Mid-Century Hybrids." Compared to Orientals, the Asiatic Hybrid lilies bloom earlier (early to mid summer), the plants are shorter, the flowers a bit smaller, and most blooms are upward-facing and star-shaped. Some of the most famous Asiatic Hybrids are orange "Enchantment", and the famous red, "Gran Paradiso."

Tiger Lilies. This group is led by the famous old orange wild lily, which used to be called Lilium tigrinum. Botanists have changed that to Lilum lancifolium, but that doesn't stop most people (including us) from using the old name "tigrinum." From the original orange, the hybridizers have created new colors from white to pink. All have the large flowers, spots, and tough perennial qualities of the original. (By the way, don't call any old spotted orange lily "tiger lily". This one is the real thing, and no lily common name is more mis-used.)

Trumpet Lilies Sometimes called "Aurelian Hybrids" or other names, the large, tall trumpet lilies are all descended from The Regal Lily, a white wild species lily from China. All are incredibly fragrant, and wonderful for cutting. They grow tall, and often need staking, since a well-grown stalk can have over 15 huge flowers.