In all the swamp lilies, the leaves are arranged in whorls, the stems are tall and slender, and the blossoms are nodding, only slightly recurved, and of a yellow or orange colour, usually spotted more or less thickly with black or purple.

The following are the ten species of swamp lilies, together with the districts from which they hail:—

By some authorities L. Parvum, L. Maritimum, L. Roezlii and L. Grayi are considered to be merely varieties of L. Canadense; and L. Californicum is said to be only a variation from L. Pardalinum, but we prefer to consider them as separate species.

And there are some authors who consider Lilium Bolanderi, L. Pardalinum Michauxi, L. Pardalinum Warei and others, which we consider to be merely varieties, to be distinct species.

The culture of the swamp lilies is perfectly simple, and if attention is paid to one or two details, failure is extremely improbable.

The swamp lilies want peat; they will grow in a mixture of peat and sand. But to thoroughly establish them a compost of peat, leaf-mould and sand should be used. If to this can be added the dried mud from the bottom of a ditch, so much the better. These lilies are always thirsty, and can never get too much water. They like a shady swampy spot, some of them preferring the drier banks of streams. The bulb must be handled with great care, for both the bulb itself and the rhizome are very tender, and the numerous thick fleshy scales which compose them are readily detached by rough handling.

To all the above rules for growing the swamp lilies, L. Humboldti and L. Columbianum are exceptions.

By far the best known of this group of lilies is Lilium Canadense, the Canada Lily. This is the only one of the group which can be considered as an old garden plant. It has been grown in England now for a long time, and was the fifth lily to be cultivated in our island.