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Lilium auratum

Golden-rayed lily

Liliaceae Japan

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Fragrant (strong)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Lilium auratum is a bulbous perennial producing unbranched stems 4-8 feet (1.2-2.4 m) tall from a yellowish bulb 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) across. Leaves are lanceolate, 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long and 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) wide, short-stalked and scattered along the stem. Flowers are bowl-shaped and outward-facing, 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) across, roughly double the span of L. speciosum flowers, with six white tepals each carrying a golden-yellow band down the centre and raised crimson to purple spots. Stems on established bulbs carry 4 to 20 flowers, opening in July and August with a scent detectable at 20-30 feet (6-9 m). Roots form on the stem above the bulb as well as beneath it, so bulbs sit 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) deep. Foliage yellows and dies back in October. Bulbs decline in soil above pH 6.5 and in ground that stays wet through winter, and stands are commonly short-lived, thinning after 3-5 years. Lily mosaic virus, spread by aphids, streaks the foliage and distorts the flowers over successive seasons, and infected bulbs do not recover.

Native Range

Lilium auratum grows wild on Honshu in Japan, with scattered populations on Shikoku and Kyushu, on volcanic grassy slopes, scrub margins, and open woodland from near sea level to 4,000 feet (1,200 m). It occupies loose, acidic, humus-rich ground on slopes where water drains away quickly. Wild populations have contracted through collection and land conversion since the 19th century.

Suggested Uses

Planted in mixed borders and at woodland edges at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing, set among shrubs or perennials that shade the root zone while stems reach light. Container culture uses deep pots of 5 gallons (19 L) or larger with at least 10 inches (25 cm) of medium above the bulb. Cut stems hold 7-10 days in water and the pollen stains fabric; all parts cause acute kidney failure in cats if eaten.

How to Identify

Flowers measure 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) across, wider than other wild Lilium spp. of Japan, and face outward from a bowl-shaped rather than recurved arrangement of tepals, separating the species from L. speciosum, whose tepals curve back on themselves. Each white tepal carries a yellow band running from base to tip and raised crimson papillae. Leaves are lanceolate, 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long, short-stalked and scattered rather than whorled, unlike the whorled leaves of L. martagon. Bulbs are yellowish and built from loose, unjointed scales.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4' - 8'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Flowers open in July and August in zones 5-8, and from late June where spring is warm. An individual flower lasts 5-8 days and a stem carries flowers over 3-4 weeks, opening from the top down. Bulbs of 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) diameter carry 4 to 20 flowers, while bulbs under 2 inches (5 cm) produce a single flower or none. Cool wet weather at bud stage triggers Botrytis elliptica, which spots the buds and aborts them before opening.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white with golden-yellow central rays and crimson spots

Foliage Description

mid green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-4 years from seed to first flowering

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Bulbs are set 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) deep in autumn or early spring in ground amended with 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) of leaf mould, since stem roots form above the bulb and need loose material to run through. Soil stays evenly moist through the growing season and drier from October to March; bulbs rot within one winter in ground that holds water. Soil pH above 6.5 causes yellowing between the leaf veins and progressive decline over 2-3 seasons. Stems reaching 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) topple in exposed positions and are staked with canes from May. Lily leaf beetle Lilioceris lilii strips foliage from April through August in Europe and northeastern North America, and lily mosaic virus spread by aphids produces streaked leaves and distorted flowers in plants that do not recover. Bulbs are lifted and divided every 3-4 years as clumps crowd and flower size drops.

Pruning

Faded flowers are cut at the base of the individual stalk through July and August, which stops seed capsules from drawing on bulb reserves. Stems are left standing after flowering until they yellow in October, since the foliage rebuilds the bulb for the following season, and cutting green stems reduces the next flower count by 30-50%. Dead stems are cut at ground level in late autumn and taken off the bed, as Botrytis spp. overwinters on the debris.

Pruning Schedule

fall