I purchased and planted a bulb in fall of 2012. In spring of 2013 a small shoot came up 6 inches and by early summer it dried up and went dormant. This spring, two shoots came up about 6 inches and it looks like it's on it's way to bed again. Question is, does it take a while to establish or am I not providing good conditions. It's near a bunch of hybrids that are thriving. That said I know it's not to be expected to grow as good as hybrids. It's in a bed with full sun, a nice layer of wood chip mulch, and it gets occasional supplemental waterings.

I hope that's normal because that is exactly what mine has done for 2 years. Looks like I'm finally going to see a bloom this year.

It seems like they are a bit slower than what we are used to. When I grew some from seed it was the 5th season to bloom. Now I have lost my pards; a couple of years ago there was a total "meltdown" of my pards AND my L. pitkinense. They were no where near each other. I have no idea why this happened as they did well for quite a few years. I hate to say it but now I am pardless. The pards in my avatar are... gone!

This is "encouraging"! The one experience I have had is when I traded for a pardalinum giganteum bulb with someone in northern Minnesota who had grown it there for many years. She sent me a big beautiful bulb in the fall, but it never returned the ensuing spring.

pardalinum said:It seems like they are a bit slower than what we are used to. When I grew some from seed it was the 5th season to bloom. Now I have lost my pards; a couple of years ago there was a total "meltdown" of my pards AND my L. pitkinense. They were no where near each other. I have no idea why this happened as they did well for quite a few years. I hate to say it but now I am pardless. The pards in my avatar are... gone!

This is happening to me too. The ones planted where the drainage was bad simply "died out". I have two other patches in better locations with part shade, well drained soil and natural mulch. I will probably (with luck) get a couple of blooms this year, but not as good as 2013. This was one of our worst winters I can remember, so maybe that has something to do with it. Hoping they recover, but they look bad as of now. They were all planted in fall 2006 and did good until this year.

I looked some up in the DB. They are very beautiful!

Anyone with limey soil and trying to grow these may consider amending the soil to be neutral or slightly acidic. They are after all Western lilies native to areas of forest humus. Looking through my reference books this morning one claims that they tolerate lime but I'm not so sure.

Regarding established clump die out, I have been wondering if overcrowding was a problem. Both of my clumps of pardalinum and pitkinense had become crowded as each year new rhizomatous bulbs form underground. In fact the pitkinense bulbs were coming out of the ground; I think the bulbs may have even been overlapping one another. I recall having planned to dig and divide at the next chance but that chance didn't come.

Well I think it is time to dig deep in my freezer and see if I have some seeds. If I start them this year I may see bloom in... oh I don't even want to think about how long it takes.

I live in Humboldt County (Next to Eureka, Calif) and L. pardalinum is a native here. They normally produce several stalks. I have several other natives or crosses and so far haven't had any problems. I don't do anything special.






This year I had several blooms from pardalinum giganteum that I purchased last year from the native plant sale, and I also had blooms on several crosses I made with l. pardalinum x pitkinense.

They seem to like pot culture for you, Mike. What kind of soil are you using? They look like they are in 2 gallon pots, How deep in the pot do the bulbs settle at?

I have them in 1,2-1/2 and 3 (which people call 5) gallons. I grow most of all my lilies in containers. I have a small area and I have bearded irises, roses and some lilies in the ground. I been using Ace bags of potting soil, but in the last 3 years (approx) I have been collecting pot recycle soil left in the areas from our growers. I just add bonemeal and water once or twice a week. Depending on the bulb size I will add soil about half way, plant the bulb and fill balance on container. When I repot them I find them about the same spot as I planted them.


Just had a seedling bloom yesterday, planted from seed 11-18-11 (Gold American Hyb)I purchased these from Lisa I think. I do have it written down. Got good germination and next year should have a lot more in bloom.

Yes you got it from me, nice seedling. I started some for me last year but in this climate they may not live long enough to see them bloom. Most of my seed was killed by the foul conditions here. Which explains why so many natives will grow here but are not native here, seed and seedlings don't get a chance.