'L. dauricum' (Species or Wild Lily)

With a wide range throughout Asia, Korea, and Japan, Lilium dauricum was used extensively in early hybridizing both in the US and Europe. An easy subject in the garden, it enjoys a well drained and slightly acidic soil. Used by de Graaff in his 'Mid Century Hybrids', the spotted up-facing, orange to orange-scarlet flowers are believed to have been used in Japan 300 or more years ago in hybridizing. It is possible that this species has offered more to today's Asiatic hybrids than any other of the Asian species. The many variants of this lily, ranging even through Eastern Russia, may well hold untold future breeding potential.

Photo inset is of 'L. dauricum var. wadi' as photographed by Edgar Kline and from the photo collection of Bill and Mary Hoffman. The 'Var. wadi' were bulbs collected on one of the Northern Islands of Japan and were offered by Hakoneya Nurseries in Yokohama, Japan in 1935 and believed to have consisted of more than one clone.