Lilium japonicum
Thunb. ex Houtt.
Liliaceae
Lilium abeanum Honda
Lilium alexandrae R.W.Wallace ex R.Hogg
Lilium belladonna Baker
Lilium brownii Poit.
Lilium elisabethiae Leichtlin
Lilium krameri Hook.f.
Lilium makinoi Makinoi
Common Name: Bamboo Lily
General Information
Lilium japonicum is a herbaceous perennial bulbiferous plant producing a rather slender, leafy stem around 50 - 100cm tall[
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine, and as a source of materials for cosmetics.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
E. Asia - central and southern Japan.
Habitat
Thickets on hills and low mountains[
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
] in rich loose woodland soil, often amongst dwarf bamboo, 300 - 900 metres[
143- Title
- Lilies - Their Culture and Management.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woodcock. and Coutts.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1935
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic, but dated. Deals with the genus Lilium.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Bulb |
Height | 1.00 m |
Pollinators | Bees |
Self-fertile | No |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Lilium japonicum is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Prefers an open free-draining humus-rich loamy soil with its roots in the shade and its head in the sun[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Grows well in open woodland[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Likes plenty of moisture and some shade[
42- Title
- Hardy Bulbs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Grey. C. H.
- Publisher
- Williams & Norgate.
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes.
,
47- Title
- Growing Lilies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fox. D.
- Publisher
- Croom Helm
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely and very readable book dealing with the cultivation of the genus Lilium.
]. Just to totally confuse matters, one report says that this species prefers a poor gravelly loam with plenty of leafmold and some charcoal, in a sunny position[
143- Title
- Lilies - Their Culture and Management.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woodcock. and Coutts.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1935
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic, but dated. Deals with the genus Lilium.
]. Requires protection from winter rains[
143- Title
- Lilies - Their Culture and Management.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woodcock. and Coutts.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1935
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic, but dated. Deals with the genus Lilium.
].
The sub-species L. japonicum platyfolium is more vigorous than the type with broader leaves.
Stem rooting, the bulbs should be planted 15 - 20cm deep[
143- Title
- Lilies - Their Culture and Management.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woodcock. and Coutts.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1935
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic, but dated. Deals with the genus Lilium.
]. 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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A very ornamental plant[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], it is cultivated for its bulb in Japan[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
] and is also a sacred flower in Japanese Shinto rites[
174- Title
- Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kariyone. T.
- Publisher
- Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A good Japanese herbal.
].
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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Bulb - cooked[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
4- Title
- A Modern Herbal.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Grieve.
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-14-046-440-9
- Description
- Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
]. It contains about 18% starch[
174- Title
- Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kariyone. T.
- Publisher
- Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A good Japanese herbal.
]. A slightly bitter taste[
174- Title
- Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kariyone. T.
- Publisher
- Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A good Japanese herbal.
]. It can be used as a vegetable in similar ways to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). The broadly ovoid bulb is around 20 - 40mm in diameter; it is made up of many imbricate, fleshy leaf scales, without a tunic[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Medicinal
The bulb is antiasthmatic, antitussive, expectorant, sedative and tonic (nutritive)[
174- Title
- Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kariyone. T.
- Publisher
- Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A good Japanese herbal.
,
176- Title
- Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Yeung. Him-Che.
- Publisher
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.
]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, haemoptysis, insomnia and fidgetiness in the later stage of febrile disease[
176- Title
- Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Yeung. Him-Che.
- Publisher
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.
].
Other Uses
An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[
].
Propagation
Seed - delayed hypogeal germination[
130- Title
- The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983.
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants, including Distylium racemosum and some perennial members of the family Berberidaceae.
]. Best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in spring[
143- Title
- Lilies - Their Culture and Management.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woodcock. and Coutts.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1935
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic, but dated. Deals with the genus Lilium.
]. Stored seed will require a warm/cold/warm cycle of stratification, each period being about 2 months long[
163- Title
- Lilies and Related Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- RHS Lily Group.
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of interesting snippets about plants in the family Liliaceae (in the old, broad sense)
]. Grow on in cool shady conditions. Great care should be taken in pricking out the young seedlings, many people 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- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division with care in the autumn once the leaves have died down. Replant immediately[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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