In the Beginning
The roots of the Lilium Species Foundation trace back to the vision of Eddie McRae, a deeply respected figure within the species-lily community. Eddie founded the Species Lilium Preservation Group, which operated in association with the North American Lily Society. From the outset, his focus was clear: the preservation, study, and cultivation of true lily species, rather than hybrids or ornamental selections. He believed that species lilies represented an irreplaceable genetic, ecological, and cultural resource that required dedicated attention and long-term stewardship.
Eddie McRae grew lilies at several locations over the years, but the majority of his work was centered at Lava Nursery, located in Parkdale, Oregon, at the base of Mount Hood. Other locations included Cloumbia Platte Lilies, and field space at Julius Wadakamper's property, also in Parkdale. The deep, well-drained volcanic soils of the region proved exceptionally well suited to the cultivation of lily species, providing the aeration, mineral balance, and seasonal temperature moderation that lilies require. Under Eddie’s directorship, the NALS–Species Lilium Preservation Group reached its peak at Lava Nursery, where several thousand species lily bulbs were grown and distributed annually. This operation became one of the most significant species-focused lily efforts in North America, demonstrating both the horticultural viability of large-scale species production and the demand for genetically authentic lilies among growers and institutions.
Over time, Eddie increasingly spoke of the need for an independent organization, one with full autonomy and the freedom to focus almost exclusively on lily species without compromise. His vision extended beyond Lilium alone and embraced closely related genera such as Nomocharis and Cardiocrinum, which share evolutionary, horticultural, and conservation significance. The Lilium Species Foundation was formed in the spirit of that vision: to carry forward a species-centered mission rooted in scientific integrity, conservation ethics, and respect for the plants themselves. LSF stands not as a departure from earlier efforts, but as their natural continuation, an enduring framework built to safeguard lily species for future generations.
Mission
The Lilium Species Foundation (LSF) exists to preserve, study, and safeguard the genetic, ecological, and cultural diversity of the genus Lilium (true lilies). The Foundation is dedicated to conservation through scientific documentation, ethical cultivation, education, and long-term stewardship, with an emphasis on protecting wild species and maintaining genetic integrity for future generations.
LSF operates exclusively for charitable, scientific, educational, and conservation purposes.
Why Lilium Matters
The genus Lilium represents one of the most ecologically, genetically, and culturally significant groups of flowering plants in the Northern Hemisphere and beyond. Many species occupy specialized or vulnerable habitats and serve as important nectar and pollen sources for native pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.
Habitat loss, climate change, over-collection, and genetic erosion increasingly threaten wild lily populations. Conservation of Lilium requires more than ornamental cultivation; it demands accurate species documentation, ethical propagation practices, and long-term preservation strategies grounded in science.
Lilies as Indicators of Habitat Health
Many Lilium species function as sensitive indicators of ecological and habitat health. While lilies are often associated with disturbed environments, their persistence and long-term viability depend on intact ecological processes, stable hydrology, and functional plant–pollinator networks.
In healthy landscapes, lilies frequently occupy refuge habitats created by natural disturbance regimes such as wildfire, flooding, landslides, and seasonal soil movement. These disturbances reduce competition and open ecological space, allowing lilies to establish and persist. However, lilies do not thrive in degraded systems; they require appropriate soil structure, moisture regimes, microbial activity, and intact surrounding plant communities to complete their life cycles.
Lilies also depend on complex ecological relationships beyond simple nectar production. Many primary lily pollinators, including hawkmoths, butterflies, and other specialist or semi-specialist insects, require specific host and companion plants to complete their own life cycles. When these associated plants decline, pollinator populations are disrupted, and lily reproduction often declines soon after.
Because of this sensitivity, lilies are frequently among the first plant groups to exhibit decline when natural disturbance regimes are altered or interrupted. Habitat degradation caused by drainage, road and residential construction, altered hydrology, fire suppression, flood control, and landscape fragmentation often results in reduced flowering, failed seed set, or complete local extirpation of lily populations.
For this reason, the presence, vigor, and reproductive success of native Lilium species can provide an early and reliable signal of broader ecological imbalance. Conserving lilies therefore contributes not only to the preservation of individual species, but also to the protection and assessment of the ecosystems in which they occur.
Approach to Conservation
LSF approaches conservation deliberately and responsibly. The Foundation emphasizes:
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Accurate taxonomic and geographic documentation
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Ethical cultivation and propagation practices
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Long-term genetic preservation rather than short-term distribution
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Compliance with conservation laws and regulations
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Transparency and accountability in stewardship
LSF does not operate as a commercial plant distributor. Conservation programs are designed to support preservation outcomes rather than demand-driven access to material.
Education and Documentation
A core function of the Foundation is the development and dissemination of reliable information about Lilium species. This includes species profiles, cultivation guidance, conservation context, and historical and cultural documentation intended to support both public education and serious botanical work.
Educational efforts are designed to foster informed stewardship and to encourage responsible engagement with lily species in cultivation and conservation settings.
Building Toward Long-Term Stewardship
LSF is in an organizational development phase, working toward the establishment of a formal membership structure, conservation exchange systems, and collaborative research and preservation initiatives. These programs are being developed deliberately to ensure legal compliance, ethical integrity, and long-term sustainability.
Effective conservation operates on multi-year and multi-generational timelines. The Foundation is committed to building systems that endure beyond individual projects or short-term trends.
Commitment
The Lilium Species Foundation is committed to acting in the public interest and to contributing meaningfully to the preservation of botanical diversity. All activities are guided by conservation ethics, scientific rigor, and respect for the natural systems in which Lilium species exist.