Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Lilium longiflorum Thunb. var. eximium (Court.) Bak.

See Lilium longiflorum Thunb. for a description of the species.  The variety eximium is known as the ‘Bermuda lily’ and is a taller, larger-flowered form.  According to Grey it is distinguished chiefly by its more narrow and cylindrical perianth tube.  It thrived out of doors in Bermuda and sparked a large commercial lily-growing industry, hence its common name.   [Grey, Hortus].  

Horticultural & Botanical History

This plant is figured in Flore des Serres as Lilium eximium Hort. ex Courtin.  Synonyms given are L. longiflorum Hort., L. japonicum Hort. and L. longiflorum alpha Sieb.  [FS pl.I & II 11e Liv./1847].  Lilium eximium was introduced to Britain in 1834.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [B.307/1843].

Notes

Lilium eximium Hort. ex Kunth. (1843) = Lilium speciosum Thunb. which see, and is unlikely to be Macarthur’s plant.  Lilium eximium was confused in some nurseries with L. speciosum album but ‘certain it is that the plant which has crept into British nurseries with the title of L. eximium is much more nearly allied to L. longiflorum than L. speciosum’.  [MB p.127/1841].

See also Notes under Lilium aurantiacum Pax.

Published Dec 27, 2009 - 03:30 PM | Last updated Jul 25, 2010 - 04:23 PM

illustrated are the lance-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped, pure white flowers.  Flore des Serres pl.I & II , 1847.

Lilium longiflorum var. eximium (Court.) Bak. | FS pl.I & II /1847 | CSIRO Black Mountain Library, Canberra

Family Liliaceae
Category
Region of origin

Japan, Taiwan

Synonyms
  • Lilium eximium Court. ex Spae
  • Lilium longiflorum Hort. ex Steud. 
Common Name

Bermuda lily

Name in the Camden Park Record

Lilium eximium 

Confidence level high