Lilium formosanum var. pricei
Common name: Dwarf formosa lily
Imagine coming across this small wild lily (Lilium formosanum var. pricei) growing high up a mountain in Taiwan. A bulbous perennial, it is found among the bamboos in volcanic soils at elevations up to 3,000 m/10,000 ft. It has such fragrant flowers you might even smell it first. Its long, narrow, funnel flowers are white, with pink on the outer mid-rib, and grow horizontally on the stem. Its narrow strappy leaves form a basal clump. Short-lived, this dwarf lily sets seed freely.
This tiny lily grows up to just 45 cm/18 in. The Formosa lily towers over it at 2 m/6 ft. There is nothing dwarf about the flowers though. They are the same size as the Formosa lily flower, 25 cm/8 in. long. It is a sight to see many of these lilies blooming together. Their flowers seem to have emerged from the earth. Their short stems and leaves are hardly visible.
The dwarf form of Formosa lily can easily be grown by seed in sun or light shade with well-drained soil. It will even flower in one season. And this small lily is hardy and not invasive - unlike the Formosa lily. The seeds for VanDusen’s lily came from Fraser’s Thimble Farms on Saltspring Island.
The bud photos were taken in bed 74 in the Garden in June, 2024, and the flower photos in July, 2023. The many-flowered photo is from the Alpine Society Plant Encyclopaedia.
Text and Garden photos by Hughie Jones.