Lilium candidum L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘We may rank the White Lily among the very oldest inhabitants of the flower-garden; in the time of Gerard it was very generally cultivated, and doubtless at a much earlier period; a plant of such stateliness, so shewy, so fragrant, and at the same time so much disposed to increase, would of course soon be found very generally in gardens, into which its introduction would be accelerated on another account; it was regarded as a plant of great efficacy; among other extraordinary powers attributed to it, we are gravely told that it taketh away the wrinkles of the face.

Linnaeus makes it a native of Palestine and Syria; Mr. Aiton of the Levant.  Its blossoms, which open early in July, continue about three weeks, and when they go off leave the flower-garden greatly thinned of its inhabitants.

Of the White Lily there are three principal varieties:

1. With double flowers.

2. With flowers blotched with purple.

3. With striped leaves, or leaves edged with yellow.

The two first of these are to be esteemed merely as curiosities in the third the plant acquires an accession of beauty which it has not originally; though many persons object to variegated leaves.’  [BM t.278/1794].

‘White Lilly.  Lilium album.  The Lilly grows about four foot high; the flowers are white with yellow apices in the middle.  It is planted in gardens and flowers in June and July.  The flowers and roots are used chiefly in external applications; they are softening and anodine, good to dissolve and ripen tumours and swellings; and to break imposthumations.  Mathiolus recommends the oil made of the flowers, as good for all pains of ye joints & contracted nerves.  The official preparation is ye Oleum Liliorum.  [Blackwell pl.11/1737].

Flore de Serres figures the variety flore striato, in which the flowers are striped and spotted with red.  [FS f.735/1852].  Introduced to Britain in 1596.  [JD].  Saint-Hilaire pl.462/1832.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues.  Probably received per ‘Sovereign’ February 1831 under the name of white lily.  [MP A2948].

Notes

Lilium candidum Thunb. (1784) = Lilium longiflorum Thunb. which see.