Lilium concolor var. partheneion (star lily, "Himeyuri")

Japanese name: ヒメユリ （姫百合）
Scientific name: Lilium concolor var. partheneion

[Overview]
A perennial 30–80 cm tall, growing sparsely in sunny grasslands and open woods.
It has a small, ovoid, white bulb underground.
The leaves are simple and alternate, borne in large numbers, linear and 5–10 cm long.
There is no leaf stalk.
The leaf margins have semicircular projections.
A raceme at the top of the stem bears several to a dozen or so flowers, which face upward.
There are 6 slightly fleshy tepals, oblanceolate and 3–4 cm long, vermilion red with dark spots on the inner surface.
The pollen is red.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by dividing bulbs or from seed.
Plants from seed flower in their second year.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
Avoid excess moisture, and provide good drainage and ventilation.
Protect it from cold wind in winter.
For potted plants, water when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, watering is unnecessary unless it becomes severely dry.
As a base fertilizer, apply a slow-release fertilizer high in phosphate and potash; from spring until the flowering period, apply a top dressing with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphate and potash.
Pests and diseases include virus disease, rot and aphids.

[Notes]
The Japanese name carries the prefix "hime" (princess) because of its small, charming appearance.

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