A perennial, growing from a scaly bulb to 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft.) in height, it has stiff, erect stems with small, lance-shaped leaves and racemes of 5-20 fragrant, trumpet-shaped, white flowers, tinged inside with yellow, and with bright-yellow anthers. It is the only lily to have overwintering basal leaves.
History and traditions
Candidum appears in Cretan frescoes dating to 3000 BC and has been cultivated since at least 1500sc for its scent and its medicinal properties. The flawless white flowers ensured its place as a symbol of purity and its association with the Virgin Mary and it is frequently featured in religious paintings. Shakespeare makes endless references to the whiteness of the “unsullied lily”, the “sweetest and the fairest”, and Gerard records that the white lily was known as “Juno’s Rose” because it grew from her milk, which had fallen to the ground (The Herbal, 1597). He also writes of using the bulbs of the white lily, mixed with honey, to heal wounds, but makes it clear that a variety of lilies were used for medicinal purposes. He ascribes many virtues to the “red lily”, including its ability to remove facial wrinkles, and reveals that Pliny recommended it as a corn remover. L. candidum is little used in modern herbalism, but the flowers are cultivated commercially in some countries for their perfumed essence, and it remains a traditional herb garden ornamental.
Growth
Can be difficult to grow and requires conditions that suit it exactly before it will flourish. All lilies dislike heavy, clay soils.
Parts used
Roots, flowers juice is used fresh in ointments and herbal preparations.
Uses
Medicinal
It has soothing, healing properties and is used externally (but only rarely) for burns, skin inflammations and disorders.
