This lily is one of the granddaddies of them all, and still popular today. Along with a few others, Lilium henryi from China is the parent of many of today's most popular hybrids. And since it's so tough and easy to grow, it's a top candidate for wildflower meadows over most all of North America."Henry's Lily" resembles a large, but more fragile version of the familiar tiger lily. But it forms huge, willowy clumps with the right conditions, and is a great carefree addition to any garden. As one expert says, "This lily really looks wild." It has been popular for so long that even Gertrude Jekyll, the early British garden guru, praised it. But not only people love this lily; it's also one of the best butterfly magnets in the garden.
The Story of Henry's Lily An Irish doctor, Augustine Henry, is the pioneer who is immortalized by this lily's name. Working with the Chinese Imperial Customs Service in 1881, he was dedicated to finding medicinal plants in the Orient. After awhile, he was so fascinated by the exotic plants around him, he became more of a botanist than a doctor, and began exploring for all kinds of plants.
One of Dr. Henry's great discoveries was the lily named for him, but he did much more. He was the man who really opened up plant explorations in China and the Himalayas, leading the way for others, including Dr. E. H. "Chinese" Wilson who followed Henry and "discovered" thousands of additional Asian plants which were shipped back to Europe and the US. (See Dr. Wilson's story with his most famous discovery, the Regal Lily, on this site.)
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Botanical Name: Lilium henryi
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Color: Tangerine orange with emerald green center.
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Bloom Time: Early to mid summer
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Flower: 6 to 8" bloom, petals elegantly recurved, up to 30 flowers per stem
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Soil Preferences: Will grow in most soil types that is slightly acidic.
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Advantages: Easy to grow. Attracts butterflies.
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