Fire Lily
Lilium bulbiferum subsp. croceum
Lily family (Liliaceae)
Orange on top
The fire lily is an exotic-looking beauty with a maximum of four large, orange-yellow flowers. The plant is 30 to 90 centimetres high and grows from an egg-shaped bulb deep in the ground. It is a wild species that has unfortunately become very rare in the Netherlands.
This bulbous plant was once common in rye fields. Through the disappearance of rye fields, deep ploughing of the soil (that damages the bulb) and the suppression of arable weeds, the fire lily has become great rarity.
King-governor William III is pictured with a fire lily. The flower has become a political symbol in Northern Ireland (Orangeman's Day, 12th July) and is grown in many gardens in Protestant neighbourhoods.
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Crown jewel of the Holland Open Air Museum.
The fire lily was for a long time the only lily in the Netherlands. Willem III, king and govenor, allowed himself to be portrayed with a fire lily.
The fire lily was for a long time the only lily in the Netherlands. Willem III, king and govenor, allowed himself to be portrayed with a fire lily. Since then the flower has become a political symbol in Northern Ireland (members of the Orange Order wear orange sashes when they attend the 12th July parade) and is grown in many gardens belonging to Protestants.
Details
Description: | Bulbous or tuberous plant, up to 0.90 m. |
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Distributions: | Central and southern europe |
Habitat: | Fields (rye fields and field margins), forests (glades) and edges, thickets, coppice, brushwood, along river dunes and rocky mountain slopes. |
Hardiness: | Colder than -4 f (very hardy) |
Flowering period: | Juni - juli |
Flower color: | Orange |
Notes on flowers: | Flowers with upright, orange flowers and dark spots on the 4-6 cm long tepals. |
At its best: | Juni - juli |