Coral Lily (Lilium pumilum) — Practical Plants

Uses

Bulb - cooked^[10]^[12]^[13]^[1]. The bulb is up to 3cm in diameter^[9]. Rich in starch, it can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum).

Plant part: Root

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The bulb is antiasthmatic, antitussive, expectorant, sedative and tonic (nutritive)^[5]^[6]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, haemoptysis, insomnia and fidgetiness in the later stage of febrile disease^[6].

Product or use: Sedative

Environment

Range

E. Asia - E. China to Siberia.

Habitat

Dry open stony southern slopes in mountainous areas and on foothills^[11]. Grassland and low scrub in shallow humus-rich soils, 400 - 900 metres^[14].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 5+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy

Soil pH

acid, neutral

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

Seed - immediate epigeal germination^[2]. Sow thinly in pots from late winter to early spring in a cold frame. Should germinate in 2 - 4 weeks^[4]. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people prefer to leave them in the seed pot until they die down at the end of their second years growth. This necessitates sowing the seed thinly and using a reasonably fertile sowing medium. The plants will also require regular feeding when in growth. Divide the young bulbs when they are dormant, putting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on for at least another year before planting them out into their permanent positions when the plants are dormant[K]. Division with care in the autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately^[7]. Bulb scales can be removed from the bulbs in early autumn. If they are kept in a warm dark place in a bag of moist peat, they will produce bulblets. These bulblets can be potted up and grown on in the greenhouse until they are large enough to plant out^[7].

Cultivation

An easily cultivated plant^[4], preferring an open light soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season^[11]^[3], though it is tolerant of most soil types^[8]. Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position^[3]^[7]. Stem rooting^[11], the bulbs should be planted 10 - 12cm deep^[3]. Early to mid autumn is the best time to plant out the bulbs in cool temperate areas, in warmer areas they can be planted out as late as late autumn^[7]. Plants are often short-lived^[14] and often die after setting a lot of seed^[11]^[3]. The flowers have a soft, orange-like perfume^[8]. The plant should be protected against rabbits and slugs in early spring. If the shoot tip is eaten out the bulb will not grow in that year and will lose vigour^[7].

References

Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

↩

? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society 1982-00-00

↩

Woodcock. and Coutts. Lilies - Their Culture and Management. Country Life 1935-00-00

↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

RHS Lily Group. Lilies and Related Plants.

↩1 ↩2

Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

↩

Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00