Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue recently christened the lily 'Dejima' of the breeders association Roselily in Japan, together with director Kris Schiermeier of Japan Museum SieboldHuis and lily grower Frans Langelaan.
The double lily 'Dejima' comes from the second generation of the Roselily range and is characterized by its smooth white color. The cultivar is fairly fast in cultivation and has strong buds.
The official christening of the lily commemorates the 150th anniversary of Japan expert Philipp Franz von Siebold (17 February 1796-18 October 1866). The baptism also marks the festive reopening of the renovated trading post Dejima in the bay of Nagasaki. This artificial island is Japanese national heritage.
Von Siebold arrived on Dejima in 1823 on a mission to gather information about Japan to improve trade relations with the Netherlands. Among other things, Von Siebold collected plants, animals and seeds. He took more than 730 East Asian crops with him from Japan, including lilies. Nowadays, 70% of all shrubs and trees in Dutch gardens and parks are of East Asian origin.
Source: Bloembollen Visie / Photos: Facebook Roselily