Sometimes, through an accident in nature or through human intervention, lilies appear which have more chromosomes than normal. Those with 36 chromosomes in each cell instead of 24 are referred to as triploids, those with 48 are known as tetraploids. If they have 36 or 48 chromosomes we call them polyploids. Polyploids are not new, nature has been producing them since the beginning of time. Tetraploids have been produced through the use of chemicals by man for over 50 years.
Plants are often larger and stronger.
Flowers are larger and brighter in color, tepals may be thicker. Root systems may also be larger and more developed. For hybridizers, polyploids are valuable because lilies which refuse to cross with other lilies when they are at the diploid level will cross at the tetraploid level. For those gardeners interested in trying their hand at hybridizing lilies, here are a few rules to follow. If one lily is a triploid, then it must be the pod parent because triploid pollen is seldom fertile.