Anyone know which way the cross was?
henryi x speciosum rubrum
Speciosum rubrum x henryi

Anyone know if similar crosses were tried?
Speciosum album x henryi
Henryi car citrinum x speciosum album

Black Beauty’ is the original clone, bred almost 50 years ago by Leslie Woodriff from Lilium speciosum rubrum and Lilium henryi. It is a superlative garden plant, flourishing in every climate, producing a cascade of the famous “black-red” tightly recurved flowers.
3 to 5 feet and taller at maturity, mid to late August.

that is a quote from the lily nook
apparently they are beautiful In bloom and the last lily to bloom of the year
I plan on adding some of these to my lilies this year and will buy some in the fall.....

I ordered 3 of these bulbs today ......from the lily nook
will see what they look like when they bloom
they say they are the last lily to bloom in my zone and usually not until the start of September.

I ordered some other as well today........
busy here for sure.....

The online lily register says Black Beauty is this cross:

Parentage: L. speciosum var. rubrum x L. henryi

Very interesting! I would have thought the other way around!

When I have good stock I will make a habit of trying out L. speciosum album x L. henryi var. citrinum.

The inspiration for that came from Neil Jordan, a lily breeder here in Tas. I think it would be fantastic to have a white 'black beauty' type of plant, without Black Beauty's leaning habit and without the tendency for that orange/yellow with red pattern to dominate successive generations. I know Neil was very keen on it, so I can only assume he has been trying for some years. If he has had any success yet I haven't heard.

If we all keep trying someday there'll be a breakthrough!

Della, your thoughts are exactly why I asked the question. I guess great minds think alike!