Among
the most spectacular of garden bulbs, lilies are deservedly
popular with the gardener. The many cultivars are all derived
by selection or hybridisation from about 100 wild species.
Most will grow in partial shade or full sun, in any well-drained,
fertile soil, although some require lime-free conditions.
Lilies have been a particular interest of the Society ever
since it took over Wisley, with its extensive woodland areas,
in 1904. In subsequent years, there have been some fine stands
of lilies, especially in the Wild Garden and in the woodland
on Battleston Hill.
The RHS Lily Group
The oldest of the RHS special interest groups, founded in 1931, the RHS Lily Group is open by subscription to all RHS members.
The International Lily Register
The RHS maintains a register of names for lily cultivars and cultivar-groups. Anyone raising new cultivars is encouraged to register them, a free service that aims to avoid duplication of names or other confusion within the genus. The full Register, which contains details of raisers, parentage and classification, was published in 1982, since when regular supplements have brought it up to date.
Registration of Lilium cultivar names
Work on lilies at the RHS
In recent years, the scarlet lily beetle has become a serious pest in many parts of southern Britain, and it appears to be spreading northwards and westwards.
Scarlet lily
beetle: current work at Wisley
Scarlet lily
beetle: recommendations for control
Lily Societies
Further reading
This is just one topic covered by the Society's monthly journal for members, The Garden, and recent articles of interest are listed below. The latest thinking from the best minds in horticulture today is to be found in the RHS journal, The Plantsman: some recent relevant articles are suggested here.
Jefferson-Brown, M. 1997, January. AGM Plants: Lilium 'Enchantment'. The Garden (RHS) 121(1): 27.
Jefferson-Brown, M. 1995, June. Hybrid lily revolution. The Garden (RHS) 120(6): 350-353.
Leslie, A. 1997. Double lilies. Roy. Hort. Soc. Lily. Year Book: 9-13.
Mitchell, B. 1997. Lilium oxypetalum var. insigne. The New Plantsman 4(3): 168-169.
Noltie, H. 2000. Dwarf yellow lilies from the Sino-Himalaya. The New Plantsman 7(1): 19-20.
North, C. 1996, March. Made in Scotland. The Garden (RHS) 121(3): 156-159. Breeding lily hybrids.