A Wisley handbook on everybody's favourite garden flower, written by Michael Jefferson-Brown, leading lily nurseryman and author.

Lilies are one of the most popular cut flowers in the world, their beauty, scent and luxuriousness drawing admiration from all quarters. Around since Christianity began, they are spread wide across the globe and hybridization has resulted in many variations to suit all situations and uses. Best placed in a mixed border surrounded by a supporting cast, they are also ideal for container growing, being easy to place and adding instant impact to a patio or conservatory. Gold medal winner, Michael Jefferson-Brown, brings his knowledge of the Liliaceae family to this study. From the pernickety species to the easy new hybrids, he gives detailed botanical facts, cultivation details, propagation information (a very amenable family for this), pest and disease advice and ideas on their uses in the garden. From the popular Lilium candidum and Lilium longiflorum to the rarer Lilium nepalense and Lilium dauricum. The towering Lilium henryi to the diminutive Lilium formosanum. The trumpet flowers of Lilium regale, the recurved martagons and the splashy diva appearance of the oriental hybids, there are lilies to suit every taste and situation. Part of the RHS Wisley handbook series, this is a comprehensive and concise look at the genus Liliaceae, fully illustrated and clearly written. Aimed at both the amateur and professional grower, this is an invaluable addition to any serious horticulturalists bookshelf. - Lucy Watson

The late Michael Jefferson-Brown was a lifelong gardener, professional nurseryman and gardening writer. Bulbs from his nurseries, including many of his own breeding, were sold all over the world and won almost 100 gold medals at Royal Horticultural Society and other shows.