Lilium speciosum 'Fourth of July'.
I purchased this selection in 2017 from Plant Delight's Nursery. I think they only sold it that one year, and I've never seen anyone else list it, so I don't know how many lily aficionados are even aware of it. FYI, here's its backstory:
https://www.plantdelights.com/...
I've not had great success with Lilium speciosum, or with Orientals in general, in-ground; not surprising given my alkaline clay soil, summer heat and erratic wet/dry/cold winters. I've grown L. speciousm 'Uchida' a number of times, only to watch it dwindle away. So I decided to permanently grow 'Fourth of July' as a container plant, as follows.
I have used fairly large pots to keep the bulbs cooler in the summer time and protected over winter. I use a potting mix of "used" (year old) orchid growing media variously composed of New Zealand sphagnum, Orchiata orchid bark, pumice, perlite, and some leaf mold. Leftovers from when I repot some of my orchids annually.
During the growing season, the pots get watered thoroughly maybe twice a week but then allowed to dry out between waterings. Fertilized 1-2 X a month with 100 ppm Excel 15-5-15 Cal Mag fertilizer. As temperatures rise, the pots are placed under the eastern edge of a large oak tree, the stems in the sun until early afternoon (dappled light afterwards), and the pots hidden between perennials so they are never struck by direct sunlight:
The results speak for themselves. A beautiful selection, definitely different from 'Uchida'. It comes into bloom for me just as now container-grown 'Uchida' is finishing up.
After the stems die down completely in late October/early November, I overwinter the pots in above-ground cold frames that are filled to the brim with dried oak leaves. So far this has worked...
This past fall I repotted the original three bulbs and their offsets. I think this was the third time potting them. The pots had become quite crowded, so I totally dismantled them. Here's what one of the original bulbs and offsets looked like:
I can't speak to how quickly Lilium speciosum forms offsets growing in-ground in better climes, but I am pleased with how well these have propagated. I shared some with the NALS auction and a few friends last year, and will continue to slowly disperse some of the offsets as I repot every few years.
I've crossed 'Fourth of July' and 'Uchida' three times now, and have or will have seed again in the NALS seed exchange. If any of you have Lilium speciosum album, album novum, or other selections besides 'Uchida', I would love to exchange pollen in the future! 'Fourth of July' typically blooms here in early to mid August as a reference.
