Purity, Hope & Innocence
A tiger lily with recurved petals.
Lilies are excellent cut flowers.
Grow lilies in containers.
An Aubade oriental lily in a sunny spot in the garden.
The more lilies the better.
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Common Name: lilies
Botanical Name: Lilium Family: Liliaceae Plant Type: summer bulbs, perennials Form: upright Mature Size: Depends on the species. Growth: fast Origin: Depends on the species. Hardiness Zone: Depends on the species. Foliage: narrow leaves, lance-shaped, parallel venation, shiny, deep green Flowers: six petal-like segments forming a trumpet, some are recurved forming a turban shape, others are flat & star-shaped, some are fragrant, colours vary depending on species Bulbs: bears scales, produces bulblets Exposure: full sun Soil: prefers humus rich, well-drained moist soil Uses: containers, borders, cut flowers, massing, fragrance gardens Attracts: bees, butterflies Invasive Tendencies: no Propagation: bulbets, bulb scales, seeds Pruning: deadhead after flowering Problems: protect from strong winds, fusarium wilt, grey mould, viruses, thrips, aster yellows Comments: Lilies are noted for being one of the oldest cultivated ornamental plants. They are a symbol of purity, hope and innocence and have been used in cultural and religious ceremonies for centuries. They many types of lilies with 16 genera and over 2000 different types. They are classified according to their growing conditions, hardiness & appearance, according to their native habitat. Planting Lilies All lilies prefer a sunny location with good draining soil. Bulbs easily rot in soggy soils and fail to flourish if it is too dry. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil from 5.5 to 7.0. Grow lilies in pots if conditions are unsuitable. Plant lily bulbs in groups of 5 or more for a more dynamic and colourful display. Mix in a few inches of compost then plant bulbs 8 inches apart and 6 to 8 inches deep. Add bonemeal to the hole according to the instructions. Press bulbs firmly in the ground pointed end up then cover with soil. Mulch with 3 inches of an organic mulch, label and water well. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Allow soil to dry to an inch in depth after the lily emerges. After flowering, remove spent flowers then feed with fish, kelp or another high nitrogen organic fertilizer. Lilies provide seasonal interest and splashes of colour when other plants have seen better days. They are versatile plants that can be used in a variety of ways. Use them as cut flowers, in containers. along garden borders, in butterfly and pollinator gardens as well as fragrant gardens. They Sadly, despite their remarkable beauty, lilies are toxic to cats and dogs. Keep that in mind if you have pets that like to chew on plants. The common lily varieties include Asiatic hybrids, Oriental hybrids, tiger lilies, Turk’s cap lilies, regal lilies, & Easter lilies. |
Asiatic Lilies, Lilium asiaticum
Graffiti Tango Asiatic lily.
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Dwarf Asiatic lilies.
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Asiatic Lilies, Lilium asiaticum
Originally from Asia, Asiatic lilies are the easiest to grow. Depending on the variety, they grow from to 5 ft tall with upward facing star shaped blossoms. Petals face outwards, or downwards and curve backwards. Flowers develop at the end of their green stems. Double petalled varieties don’t bear pollen and a therefore ideal for people with allergies. Asiatic lilies main flowering period is in July. Flowers are unscented and are cold hardy, USDA Zones 4 to 9. Toxic to cats and dogs. Plant in full or partial sun with at least six hours of sunlight daily, in moist, well-drained soil. |
Oriental Hybrid Lilies
White Stargazer oriental hybrid.
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Casablanca oriental lily
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Sweet Rosy oriental lily
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After Eight oriental lily
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Stargazer lily.
Aubade oriental lily
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Oriental hybrid lilies, Lilium orientalis
Originally from Japan, these intensely fragrant, oriental lilies are one of the last of the lilies to blossom. Their flowering period is relatively long as they pump out their large up to 8-inch wide, flattish, spectacular blooms from mid to late summer and sometimes into autumn. Plants grow from 2ft to 6 ft depending on the cultivar. Oriental lilies produce large, open flowers in rich shades of white, red, and pink, with many variations. The blooms sit atop green stems, face upward, and release a heavenly scent. They prefer acidic soil and will die in soils with pH above 7.0. Soil must be moist but drain well. They are hardy from USDA Zones 3 to 9. |
Tiger Lilies
Citronella tiger lily.
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Lilium tigrinum splendens.
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Tiger lilies.
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Tiger Lilies, Lilium tigrinum
Native to Asia, this species produces bright orange flowers speckled with brown, though some cultivars are red, yellow, white, or pink. Their recurved petals expose prominent stamens and a pistil. Depending on the cultivar, plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall.
They grow best in full sun in slightly acid, well draining soil. These tough lilies are tolerant of temperature fluctuations and humidity. Grow in USDA hardiness zones of 3 to 9. Toxic to humans and cats.
Native to Asia, this species produces bright orange flowers speckled with brown, though some cultivars are red, yellow, white, or pink. Their recurved petals expose prominent stamens and a pistil. Depending on the cultivar, plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall.
They grow best in full sun in slightly acid, well draining soil. These tough lilies are tolerant of temperature fluctuations and humidity. Grow in USDA hardiness zones of 3 to 9. Toxic to humans and cats.
Japanese Show Lily
Black Beauty Japanese Show Lily
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Black Beauty Japanese Show Lily
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Black Beauty is so tall, it often needs staking.
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Japanese Show Lily, Rubrum Lily, Spotted Lily, Lilium speciosum
Native to Japan, southeast China and Taiwan it is associated with oriental lilies. This easy to grow lily blooms later than other lilies in the late summer. Each stem bears up to 12 extremely fragrant flowers atop long single stems. Size of stems vary depending on the cultivar from 2 to 5 feet in length. USDA zones 5 to 9. Toxic to cats.
Native to Japan, southeast China and Taiwan it is associated with oriental lilies. This easy to grow lily blooms later than other lilies in the late summer. Each stem bears up to 12 extremely fragrant flowers atop long single stems. Size of stems vary depending on the cultivar from 2 to 5 feet in length. USDA zones 5 to 9. Toxic to cats.
Regal, Trumpet lily
Trumpet Lily
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Trumpet lilies.
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Trumpet, regal lily.
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Regal, trumpet lily (Lilium regale)
The royalty of the garden, regal lilies are also called royal, king’s and trumpet lilies. From southwestern China, the species has white flowers, however, cultivated varieties come in numerous colour combinations of orange with purple, yellow with red, white with yellow. Some are speckled and some have dark centres. There’s a plethora of combinations.
Their large 8-inch trumpet shaped blossoms are intensely fragrant. Regal lilies are not especially fussy about soil, but it must drain well but it doesn’t like it to dry. Plant them in acidic to neutral soil, as they do not tolerate alkaline conditions.
Toxic to cats. Hardy from USDA zones 4 to 8.
The royalty of the garden, regal lilies are also called royal, king’s and trumpet lilies. From southwestern China, the species has white flowers, however, cultivated varieties come in numerous colour combinations of orange with purple, yellow with red, white with yellow. Some are speckled and some have dark centres. There’s a plethora of combinations.
Their large 8-inch trumpet shaped blossoms are intensely fragrant. Regal lilies are not especially fussy about soil, but it must drain well but it doesn’t like it to dry. Plant them in acidic to neutral soil, as they do not tolerate alkaline conditions.
Toxic to cats. Hardy from USDA zones 4 to 8.
Easter Lilies
Easter lilies and marigolds.
Easter Lilies, Lilium longiflorum
Although they are forced into flower to celebrate Easter, Easter lilies naturally flower from May to June. These are heavenly fragrant lilies with pure white trumpet shaped blossoms. They originate from the southern islands of Japan but are now grown throughout the world from USDA zones 4 to 8.
Plant bulbs in full sun preferably, however they can handle partial shade in the heat of the summer. They require rich evenly moist soil that drains well. Avoid wet and dry soils. Toxic to pets.
Although they are forced into flower to celebrate Easter, Easter lilies naturally flower from May to June. These are heavenly fragrant lilies with pure white trumpet shaped blossoms. They originate from the southern islands of Japan but are now grown throughout the world from USDA zones 4 to 8.
Plant bulbs in full sun preferably, however they can handle partial shade in the heat of the summer. They require rich evenly moist soil that drains well. Avoid wet and dry soils. Toxic to pets.