Lilium pardanthinum grows between 9,000 and 13,000 feet in the mountains of central China, which tells you everything about what it requires: abundant light, cool temperatures year-round, and a long winter rest under snow. The species epithet reportedly alludes to the Greek for leopard flower, a nod to the striking spots on its pink tepals. The bulbs are small, loosely scaled, and should be planted 4 inches deep in humus-rich soil. Because the bulbs resent heat, thick mulch is essential, and pairing them with low shade-giving companions such as heucheras, bergenias, or hellebores helps keep the root zone cool through summer.

This is unambiguously a plant for the experienced grower who can provide conditions close to its native habitat. Morning sun suits it better than intense afternoon exposure, and seed propagation is the primary means of increase. The flowers are, by all accounts, worth the trouble: spotted pink blooms with the refined elegance characteristic of high-mountain lilies. In gardens that are genuinely cool, it would be appropriate in an Asian-inspired planting, a cottage border with other choice perennials, or a well-considered shade garden with good light.