Lilium trigrinum 'White Twinkle'

Lilium trigrinum 'White Twinkle' in bloom in an East Asian grassy meadow
Lilium trigrinum 'White Twinkle'

Bulbous perennial of the Liliaceae family, this cultivar is a selection derived from Lilium tigrinum, a species native to China, Japan, and Korea, where it grows in grassy meadows, forest edges, and sunny to partially shaded slopes.

The sturdy stems reach 60 to 90 cm, bearing lanceolate foliage, medium green, arranged in a spiral along the stem. The flowers, upright to slightly spreading, are open cup-shaped, with broad, non-reflexed tepals, creamy white to pure white, slightly tinged with yellow-green at the base. The interior is dotted with small, distinct purple-brown spots, concentrated towards the center, which finely contrast with the whiteness of the background. The anthers are a warm orange-rust. This combination of pure white and dark punctuation gives the flower a character that is both delicate and precise.

In its natural habitat, the species blooms from July to August. In cultivation, this cultivar blooms at the same time.

It is cultivated in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained, fresh, humus-rich soil, neutral to slightly acidic. Like other tiger lilies, it produces small axillary bulbils along the stem, allowing for easy natural multiplication.