Michael Jefferson-Brown has been a lily lover all his life - growing and breeding them for over fifty years. Keen to spread this love further, he offers an informative reference to this beautiful genus, stunningly illustrated with the photographs of Andrew Lawson. Dating back to earliest times, the lily has been revered for its beauty and, in some cases, its medicinal qualities, for centuries and with the advent of the Golden Age of plant hunting in the 1800s, the range and diversity of the genus exploded on a ready and willing market of gardeners. From the exotic Asiatics to the stunning Orientals, the dainty Martagons and the towering Trumpets, their beauty and scent are redolent of English country gardens through the aeons of time. Pink to white, yellow to orange and all shades in-between, spotted, striped or pure there is a shade for every situation and taste. Easy to grow and easy to propagate, they have readily adapted to life in containers extending their range of uses to present-day trends. Clearly written, engagingly informative and with his ardour for these bulbous gems shining through, Michael Jefferson-Brown gives every gardener - beginner or more experienced alike - an excellent grounding in the cultivation of this beautiful family. - Lucy Watson

Part 1 Introducing lilies: history; in the garden. Part 2 Choosing lilies: the species; the hybrids. Part 3 Growing lilies: planting; propagating.