Regal Lily is a trumpet-type bulb native to southwestern China that was introduced to England in 1903 by plant explorer Ernest Henry Wilson. This hybrid grows 3 to 5 feet tall (occasionally reaching 6 feet in ideal conditions) and produces up to 25 large, fragrant white trumpet flowers per stem, each 6 to 8 inches long with a yellow throat flushed purple on the outside. The flowers bloom in July across hardiness zones 3 to 8, and the bulbs are more drought tolerant than many other lily types, though they prefer consistent moisture throughout the year.
36
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-8
72in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Large, outward-facing white trumpet flowers perfume the summer garden with their rich fragrance, and a single stem can carry up to 25 blooms. Each bulb multiplies over time in optimum conditions to form a substantial clump of rigid stems, eventually creating a dramatic display. Unlike many lilies, Regal Lily tolerates drought reasonably well once established, making it a dependable choice even in variable growing seasons.
Regal Lily is grown as an ornamental bulb for its dramatic flowers and intoxicating fragrance. Gardeners plant it in groups of at least three bulbs for maximum visual impact, using it in perennial borders, cutting gardens, and formal arrangements where its tall rigid stems and prolific flowering earn it a place of honor.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant bulbs in fall or early spring at a depth of 6 to 8 inches (slightly less in heavy clay), spacing them 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant in groups of at least three bulbs for the best visual display.
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“Regal Lily originates from the mountainous regions of Sichuan Province in southwestern China, where it grows wild in alpine meadows. Ernest Henry Wilson, a renowned plant collector working for the Arnold Arboretum, introduced the species to England in 1903, bringing it from its native habitat into cultivation across Europe and North America. This journey from remote Chinese mountains to Victorian gardens represents one of the significant botanical introductions of the early twentieth century, transforming Regal Lily into a cornerstone of temperate garden design.”