Description
A lovely species with flared flowers of classic harebell (Campanula) shape, hanging at the top of 90 cm stems. The flowers have thick petals and are pink to red-pink on the inside internally, with deeper, red-purple spickling crowded around the centre of the flower and becoming more intense towards the ovary. The exterior is often quite pale, though it is always stained with rich cerise-purple over the paler pink ground and stained reddish towards the top. Perfection is complemented by a superb, classic, Lily scent.
The forms shown are the darker, reddish plants regarded as rubrum, however the colour of the species in the wild apparently makes a continuous spectrum between pink or reddish (var rubrum) and plants with a white ground (Lilium bakerianum var yunnanense). These taxa all being very variable, indeed the whole species bakerianum is characterised (in its various named varieties) by its variation from bronze to red and pink and then through yellows to white.
Well-drained soil with some humus, we grow ours in partial shade. Experience has shown that they really do need a cool or cold and virtually dry rest in the winter. Moisture at this time can cause moulding or more serious rots which then attack the bulb.
