Lilium Nanum

Lilium nanum is the true dwarf lily of the Himalayas, often standing only a few centimetres above the surrounding alpine turf. Fine stems carry solitary nodding bells in violet, plum or pale lilac, their petals slightly recurved above narrow miniature leaves. It survives near the snowline in mossy meadows and gritty humus pockets at extreme elevation, where summers are brief, cool and moist. Its tiny scale and intense colour make it an extraordinary alpine-house subject, but it is among the most exacting lilies in cultivation, intolerant of heat, stagnant air or drying roots.