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A proposal for conserving some important hybrid lilies (better late than never) In the article I wrote for the 2003-2004 edition of “Lilies and Related Plants”, I alluded to the difficulty of sourcing bulbs of the hybrids developed by Chris North, Derek Fox and Oliver Wyatt. I pondered on the possibility of interested Lily Group members adapting the tried and tested seed donation mechanism for the conservation of these important hybrids and proposed making a “start up” donation of North Hybrid bulbs and then - I did nothing. In this article, therefore, I would like to deal with my tardiness by providing some background on these lovely lilies and then outline some suggestions for their conservation. Derek Fox introduced me to North Hybrids on a visit to his garden in 1994, when I purchased some of the “North Lady” series from him. That was seven years before I met Chris North in person. Hence, I had some time to appreciate the beauty of the hybrids before I became a friend of the hybridiser. Gradually, I obtained more of the “North Lady” series and a number of the “Classical” series. Unfortunately, of the four suppliers from whom I purchased the bulbs only one continues to offer North Hybrids. The others have either gone out of business or no longer offer these hybrids. Fortunately, however, the North Hybrids I obtained in 1994 and thereafter are still growing in my garden, as are a number of additional bulbs that have been produced through division and/or scaling from the stock I have built up. Currently, I grow the following:
I also grow ‘Chris North’, which is a cross between L. pyrenaicum and L. pomponium. Although a side issue to the main purpose of this article, accurate identification can pose problems with North Hybrids. For instance, having ordered ‘Hannah’ from a supplier, I received ‘Peggy’ and while on a visit to one of the few suppliers that stock North Hybrids, ‘Rosemary’ was labelled ‘Marie’. Perhaps a way of overcoming this problem would be to post a copy of Chris North’s “Mylnefield Lilies” CD on the Lily Group website. Not only would this help to correct misidentifications, for all interested parties, it would also provide the viewer with a gallery of photographs (supported by informative and readable text) that exemplify the astonishing palette of colours, shades and tints that make North Hybrids so exceptional. Unfortunately, I have never grown any of Derek Fox’s hybrids, but I have often admired their delicacy of colour and poise in the photographs in his excellent book, “Growing Lilies”. Then, in September 2004, I received a letter from Jerry Reece, a member of the North American Lily Society and another admirer of these hybrids. Jerry wanted to know if I was aware of any sources of Derek Fox’s western American lily hybrids that could be purchased for “non-commercial tissue culture propagation”. Specifically, Jerry indicated that he would like to locate bulbs of ‘Lake Tulare’, ‘Lake Tahoe’, ‘Robin’ and ‘Nightingale’. Charlie Kroell, who delivered a lecture at the 2004 RHS Lily Conference and with whom I had corresponded about L. henryi var. citrinum, suggested to Jerry that I might be able to help him. I have to admit, such is the rarity of these hybrids, that I was only able to point Jerry in the direction of one supplier who indicated he had a few bulbs that would be ready for sale in a year or two. When I spoke to Harris Howland he thought a few Lily Group members might be able to help Jerry, but clearly Derek Fox’s hybrids seem to be as rare as the proverbial hen’s teeth. I have to admit I know very little about Oliver Wyatt, although the hybrids he developed by crossing L. chalcedonicum maculatum with L. testaceum, i.e. ‘Ares’, ‘Artemis’ ‘Apollo’, ‘Hephaestus’ and ‘Zeus’ must have been stunning, certainly if measured by the photograph of ‘Hephaestus’ in Derek Fox’s book “Growing Lilies” and the following appraisal: “The result was a race of beautiful hybrids of varying shades but, although a few bulbs of some of those named may linger on in Britain, they are now better known in literature than in gardens.” (Fox, D. (1985) “Growing Lilies”, London) Given that Derek Fox wrote this twenty years ago, it makes depressing reading for those, like myself, who would dearly love to gaze on a drift or two of Oliver Wyatt’s Greek gods flowering in their gardens. To find out more about Oliver Wyatt’s hybrids, I consulted an article he wrote for “The Lily Year Book 1950”. The article is entitled “The Hybridising of Lilies - An Amateur’s Approach”. What impressed me was the amount of care and attention Oliver Wyatt dedicated to developing his hybrids and his awareness, alluded to more than once in the article, that one lifetime is not sufficient to both produce and ensure the future of worthwhile hybrids. The following quote articulates both the existential problem and the solution that Oliver Wyatt had in mind. “Perhaps the Lily Group will at some time consider the possibility of taking over the later stages of experiment of hybrids which are proven worthy; for a range of perfect hybrids may be beyond the power and span of an individual amateur.” Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, the Lily Group did not adopt Oliver Wyatt’s suggestion. I think today people might call that a missed opportunity. Having spent a number of hundreds of word getting to this point, I would now like to get to the point, i.e. what might be done to conserve the hybrids developed by Chris North, Derek Fox and Oliver Wyatt? I propose, in the first instance, that those Lily Group members, who wish to take part in this non-commercial enterprise, exchange contact details. To start the ball rolling my contact details are: Alan Mitchell Telephone: 01592 759255 Some readers might still be in the dark as to how the actual process of conserving bulbs might work. Hopefully, the following example, focusing on North Hybrids, should make this clear.
Gradually, this process should increase the distribution and ownership of, in this case, North Hybrids and, thereby, help to conserve these beautiful lilies. There is of course a risk that virus infected bulbs may be exchanged inadvertently. However, I would suggest that Lily Group members are at least as punctilious as bulb suppliers from whom we purchase bulbs that involve the same risk. In essence, nothing in life is without risk and that includes the proposal outlined in the bullet points above. The process outlined above, for the production and conservation of North Hybrids, could also be used for Derek Fox’s hybrids. However, as indicated earlier in this article, these appear to be in much shorter supply than North Hybrids, so it could take some time before bulbs of these hybrids are identified in sufficient numbers to make the process described for North Hybrids possible. As for Oliver Wyatt’s hybrids, unless there is a lost garden somewhere, which still harbours a collection of these lovely lilies, it would seem the only way to conserve them is to recreate them. Having planted a bulb of L. chalcedonicum last October and keeping my fingers crossed that I might be able to rescue a bulb or two of L. testaceum, which I should have treated more kindly, I suppose I might have the wherewithal to begin the process of recreation myself. However, a more reliable alternative would be if Lily Group members who own healthy plants of L. chalcedonicum and L. testaceum were prepared to exchange pollen and pollinate their respective lilies to attempt to replicate the process that Oliver Wyatt started over half a century ago. If such an exchange and attempt were to take place (and prove successful) in less than a decade “a race of beautiful hybrids”, to use Derek Fox’ words, could be reborn. As I conclude this article, I am conscious that my good intentions are let down somewhat by the limitations of my proposals, so I would like to stress that I am open to any suggestions to further the cause and case for the conservation of what must be some of the most impressive hybrid lilies ever produced. Alan Mitchell
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