Lilies add brilliant colour and fragrance to the summer garden.
Lilies: The Joys of the Summer Garden
Whether you're new to gardening or a gardening pro, you'll want to consider adding lilies to your summer garden. Lilies, also known by the botanical name Lilium, come in a variety of flower colours, sizes and bloom times. These classic sun perennials are known for their big, showy, often fragrant flowers and low maintenance. Lily flowers are also favorites for bridal bouquets, centerpieces and cut-flower arrangements.
Lilies are grown from bulbs that can be planted in the spring or fall. They tolerate a variety of soils, as long as it is well-drained, and they are sun lovers, doing best in areas that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. They are perennials, coming back year after year-”and most varieties naturalise well, multiplying year after year.
When planning for garden lilies, you have lots of choices including colour, size and bloom times. In this article, you'll learn more about:
- Top reasons for growing lilies
- True lilies versus plants with lily in their name
- Types of lilies to consider
- Garden design with lilies
- How to plant your lily bulbs
- How to care for lily plants
Top Reasons to Grow Lilies in Your Garden
Easy, easy, easy. Lily care is simple. Lilies are some of the easiest sun perennials to grow, as long as they have good drainage and lots of sun.
Showy, summer colour. Lily flowers are large, with some growing up to 8 inches across, so they're sure to get noticed in the summer garden. The come in a wide range of colours, including white, orange, pink, yellow, red and more.
Outstanding cut flower. The lily flower is treasured for wedding bouquets, centerpieces and cut-flower arrangements. One lily flower is enough for an arrangement.
Incredible fragrance. Oriental lilies are known for their outstanding fragrance that floats on the summer breeze. As cut flowers, they can perfume a room.
Versatility. Lilies come in many colours and sizes, so they're easy to fit into garden settings and even containers.
Bloom time. When do lilies bloom? This depends on the variety of lily you are growing. With a little planning, you can plant different varieties and have up to 8 weeks of summertime blooms.
Lilies are a favourite flower for wedding bouquets.
True Lilies versus Plants with the Lily Name
Lots of plants have lily in their name but aren't true lilies. Lilies are of the genus Lilium and grow from bulbs. They generally have only one stem that grows from the bulb.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are not true lilies. They have green, strap-like foliage and do not grow from bulbs.
Daylilies like Younique Red Daylily are not true lilies.
Calla lilies (Zantesdeschia) grow from bulbs, but are not true lilies. The calla lily flower is funnel-shaped and the plants have arrowhead-shaped leaves.
Calla Lilies, like this Calla Lily Mixture, are not true lilies.
Canna lilies (Canna) are tropical-looking plants that grow from bulbs, but are not true lilies. They are not winter hardy in zones 3-7, and must be lifted in the fall.
Cannas, like Happy Carmen Canna, are not true lilies.
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are not true lilies. They are a popular, easy-to-grow, tropical-looking houseplant.
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a perennial plant with sprays of white, bell-shaped flowers that blooms in the spring. It is not a true lily.
The Lily of the Valley is not a true lily.
Types of Lilies (Lilium) to Consider for Your Garden
Some of the most common lilies are Asiatic (known for their early bloom time and spectacular colour), Oriental (later-blooming lilies known for their intoxicating fragrance) and trumpet (known for its huge, trumpet-shaped flowers). Depending on the variety, lilies flower from late spring to late summer. With planning, you can enjoy lily blooms for weeks and weeks-”and fit them into a variety of garden situations.
Easy Samba Asiatic Lily delivers impressive colour in early summer.
Start Your Summer off with Asiatic Lilies
Asiatic lilies are some of the earliest lilium to bloom, with some flowers opening in late spring and others in early summer. Generally Asiatic lilies bloom right after peonies.
The Asiatic lily flower will range in size but is usually about 5 or 6 inches across. Their flower colours span a range of hues including creamy white, pink, yellow, peach, orange, red and nearly black. Some of the lily flowers are also bicolored and speckled. The flowers add welcome colour, brightness, warmth and elegance to the garden.
Asiatic lily care is very easy. Asiatic lilies are a breeze to grow and maintain, and they tend to come back and multiply year after year. Asiatic lily bulbs can be planted in the spring or fall. Like other lilies, Asiatic lilies prefer well-drained sandy or loamy soil and plenty of sunshine-”about 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily. Most varieties are hardy in zones 3 to 8.
The flowers on Asiatic lilies may face upward, outward or downward and may have a light fragrance. The height of these lilies will vary, from as short as 1 ft. tall to up to 8 ft. tall. When selecting your lily bulbs, be sure to note the height and spread for each individual variety.
Stargazer is one of the most popular Oriental lilies.
Delight in the Fragrance of Oriental Lilies
The Oriental lily is a summer favourite lilium in the flower garden because of its fragrance that seems to float on the summer air. As cut flowers, they will also perfume a room. They are also tops for wedding bouquets, centerpieces and fresh flower arrangements.
Some Oriental flowers are simply huge, up to 8 inches across, and they come in a range of colours including crisp white, pink, yellow, orange, purple and red. Some have speckling, multiple colours, double blooms and starburst eyes.
Oriental lilies tend to bloom in mid to late summer. So, if you love lilies and want to extend the lily season, plant Oriental lilies with Asiatic lilies.
Like other lilies, Oriental lilies are easy-care as long as they are planted in well-drained soils. They will do well in clay, loamy and sandy soils, as long as the soil is well drained. Oriental lilies are hardy in zones 3-8 and prefer full sun, but will grow in partial shade. Too much shade though, and the stems can get spindly and fall over. Individual varieties can grow from 2 to 8 ft. tall, so be sure to check the variety's height and spread.
Trumpet lilies, like this Trumpet Lily Mixture, wow garden visitors with their flowers.
Trumpet Lilies are Standouts in the Summer Garden
Majestic, trumpet-shaped lilium flowers add brilliant colour and fragrance to the summer garden. Trumpet lilies (sometimes called an Easter lily) have sturdy, stately stems that reach up to 6 ft. tall. Flower colours vary from white, pink, orange and more. Each stem produces multiple, fragrant flowers that open in mid to late summer. Like other lilies, they are also good for cutting.
Trumpet lilies are favourites for growing in back borders. They are easy to grow as long as you make sure they have plenty of sun and plant the bulbs in well-drained soils. They don't like damp, moist spots. They naturalize well, multiplying every year. Most are hardy in zones 3-8.
The Orange Tiger Lily offers bold color and dramatic spots.
Love Orange Hues and Spots? Make Room for Tiger Lilies
Tiger lilies are known for their dramatic freckling and recurved petals. Probably the most popular variety is the Orange Tiger Lily. It bears flowers up to 5-inch tall. The downward facing flowers are a brilliant orange hue with black spots. Other Tiger Lilies are available in double flower form, orange-pink and yellow-orange hues-”and lots of spots. Orange Tiger Lilies add a bold accent to the summer garden, and most bloom in mid to late summer. They, too, prefer full sun.
Carpet Border Lilies will delight visitors when planted near walkways.
Grow the Cheeriest, Most Colorful Ground Cover with Carpet Border Lilies
Carpet lilies are lilium that deliver bold colour and elegant flowers on a low-growing plant. Most of these gems grow just 12 to 24 inches tall-”so they are the perfect size for planting en masse and growing as a colorful, blooming ground cover. They are also suitable for lining walkways or even growing in containers.
Many Carpet Border Lilies are either Asiatic or Oriental types, so their bloom times can vary from late spring to early summer or from midsummer to late summer. They come in a range of colours, including pink, purple, yellow and orange. Like their taller counterparts, Oriental Carpet Border Lilies tend to be very fragrant.
Carpet Border Lilies grow best in well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. Most are hardy in zones 3-8. When buying Carpet Border Lily bulbs for your garden, note their height, spread and bloom time.
Lily trees, like High Tea Lily Tree, are excellent choices for the backs of sunny borders.
Want the Tallest Lilies? Choose Lily Trees
Lily trees are not really trees, but they are really tall lilies (Lilium). Growing up to 8 ft. tall, tree lilies have sturdy stalks that bear gorgeous flowers. The flowers can be quite fragrant and reach up to 8 inches across.
Like other lilies, tree lilies are grown from bulbs, and the vigorous plants naturalize well. They are generally hardy in zones 3-8, and grow well in full sun and well-drained soils. They bloom in midsummer.
Want to Avoid the Pollen? Choose Pollen-Free Varieties
Some of the newer hybrid lilium choices do not have pollen. Some gardeners, especially those that use lilies as cut flowers, prefer lilies without pollen because they don't want pollen to stain furniture or clothing. As a general rule, the double-flowering lily varieties don't have pollen.
Where Should Lilies Be Planted?
Using Lilies in Garden Design
Because they are showy, reliable bloomers, lilium are favorites for mixed perennial flower beds and gardens. When choosing lilies for your flower beds, keep these things in mind:
Lilies need lots of sun. For best results, lilies should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. When planning your lily planting, make sure that other plants, shrubs or trees, or buildings or other manmade objects don't block their sun.
Lilies need well-drained soil. Avoid planting lilies in areas where there frequently is standing water. Slopes are popular areas to plant lilies because they drain well and the slope really makes the flowers stand out.
Lilies don't like to be crowded. Lilies do not like to smothered by ground cover or crowded by other plants.
Lilies come in various heights. Because some varieties of lilies grow just 12 inches tall and some others can reach up to 8 ft., check the variety's size before placing it in your garden. This way you will avoid having taller plants blocking the view of your lilies, or the lilies blocking the view of your other plants.
Lilies are Favourites for Mixed Flower Beds
Lilies (lilium) look right at home with other sun perennials and annuals and can add a burst of yellow, orange, pink or other colours. With planning, you can have months of color in your garden. Lilies bloom after perennials such as peonies, iris and columbine. They bloom before sweet peas, snapdragons and rudbeckia. When selecting companion plants for lilies, look for shallow-rooted plants (many annuals are). Lilies look best when they are planted in groups of three of more.
Flower Bulb Beds
Lilies can also be planted in the flower bulb beds. They bloom after the early-blooming flower bulbs like hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and allium. Lilies usually bloom before the dahlias.
When planting in flower bulb beds, take care as not to overcrowd them and make sure they get plenty of sunlight and aren't shaded out by other plants or buildings.
For waves of colour, plant lilies en masse.
Plant Lilies in Masses
Because lilies have such a height range, you can plant low-growing, mid-sized and tall varieties for a stunning colour show. Surround taller tree or trumpet lilies with mid-sized lilies and low-growing Carpet Border Lilies. Another favourite idea is staggering the lily bloom time by planting early blooming Asiatic lilies with later blooming Oriental lilies.
Grow Lilies as a Ground Cover
Many of the Border Carpet Lilies grow just 18 inches tall, making them the perfect size for a ground cover. Carpet lilies look fantastic on the front edges of flower beds or lining a walkway. Your garden visitors will love the colorful blooms and fragrance.
Smaller lilies, like Sunny Keys Oriental Border Carpet Lily, are ideal for containers.
Plant Lily Bulbs in Containers
Almost all lilies will grow in containers, but the shorter ones are easier to manage and do not require support. Growing lilies in patio pots adds vibrant colour to container gardens. It is also a great solution for gardeners who may not have a sunny location in the garden to plant lilies. (More information about growing lilies in containers is included later in this article).
A Warning about Lilies
Lilies (lilium) are extremely toxic to cats. Ingestion of the leaves or pollen by cats could result in severe kidney failure.
How to Plant Lilies
Lilium bulbs can be planted in the spring or fall. You will likely get more flowers the following summer if you plant the bulbs in the fall. Because lily bulbs are actually tubers, they never go completely dormant like some flower bulbs. They also don't have a protective covering like tulip and daffodil bulbs. Handle your lily bulbs carefully because they lose moisture quickly. Try to plant your lily bulbs as soon as possible after receiving them. If planting lilies in the fall, plant them before the ground freezes.
Lilies grow best in well-drained soil. While they will tolerate a lot of different soil pH levels, they prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil. It is time well spent to determine where you want to plant your lilies. Lilies are excellent for perennializing and prefer to be left undisturbed for years.
Before planting lily bulbs in the garden, spade or rototill the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches. Then mix in plenty of organic matter such as dehydrated manure or compost. Also mix in Breck's Food for Bulbs and Perennials. If you have a lot of clay in your soil, amend the soil with compost and either rock dust or crushed stone. This will improve its drainage. If you have sandy soil, amend the soil with compost and possibly clay. This will help it retain moisture and nutrients.
Once you have prepared the soil, dig a hole about 6 to 9 inches deep. Place the lily bulb at the bottom of the hole with its roots facing down and the scales pointing upward. Space the bulbs about 9-12 inches apart (again, this will vary with variety). Lilies spread and fill in the space. Cover the bulb with earth, pressing down gently. After planting, water well. If planting lily bulbs in the fall, water two to three times before the ground freezes.
If you live in a climate with warmer temperatures, plant your lily bulbs a little deeper (closer to the 9 inches). This will keep your bulbs cool when summer temperatures soar. Also, by planting deeper, your get better root development which helps stabilize the plants.
Lilies Benefit from Mulch
After your lily plants emerge in the spring, place a 2-4 inch layer of mulch around them. This helps keep the soil from drying out, suppresses weeds and maintains a more even, cooler soil temperature. This also helps prevent your lily bulbs from being heaved out of the ground during the alternate freezing and thawing weather of winter.
Fertilizing and Watering Your Lilies
Because lilies like rich soil with lots of nutrients, apply Breck's Food for Bulbs and Perennials each spring when the lily sprouts emerge from the ground and again in the summer when the flowers open. During the growing season, lilies need about an inch of water per week. If the rainfall is not sufficient, additional watering is recommend.
Want Big, Beautiful Flowers Every Year? Do These 2 Things
If you remove the spent flowers from lily plants, this prevents the forming of seed pods. The bulb uses energy to make seed pods. If it is not making seed pods, it is putting its energy into the bulb and future flower production. What is really critical, though, is NOT removing the foliage until it has turned yellow. The foliage helps build energy for the bulb and future flower production.
Tips for Planting Lilies in Containers
When selecting containers or patio pots for lilies, remember the bigger the pot, the better. Containers should be at least 12 inches deep. The best containers for lilies are 10 gallons or larger. When planting lilies in pots, use a quality commercial potting soil. In the bottom of the pot, place a 2-inch layer of rocks or small stones. Place the potting mix on top of the drainage materials. Make sure your container has drainage holes, as the bulbs will rot if they sit in water. This is especially a concern over winter.
When planting in containers, you can place the lily bulbs closer together than you would in the garden. Lilies look better when planted in groups. Allow at least 2 inches between bulbs when planting in containers. The plants don't need to be quite as deep in containers as they do in the garden.
Because lilies need a cold season in order to flower, leave the containers outdoors during the winter. In areas with severe cold weather, move the pot indoors into a cool place, such as an unheated garage. Bring the pot outdoors again with the temperatures rise.
Container lilies can be repotted in the fall when the foliage dies down. The bulbs can also be transferred to the garden. If growing lilies in containers for a second season, add two inches of compost along with some fertilizer or well-rotted manure to the pot.
Lilies make excellent cut flowers.
Tips for Cutting Lily Flowers
Lilies make excellent cut flowers, and look spectacular in vases, bouquets and centerpieces. To get the most out of your flowers, pick the flowers as the buds are just beginning to open. If you want to avoid staining the blooms, furniture or clothing, remove the orange, pollen-coated stamens when the flowers are fully open. If you want to avoid the pollen, consider planting double flowering lilies or newer cultivars that do not have pollen.
When cutting the flowers, make sure to leave at least one third of the stem on the plant. This helps the bulb gather strength for the coming year. If you cut too much stem and foliage, the bulb may not flower the next year.
When placing lilies in a vase, leave the upper leaves on the stem to nourish the unopened buds. Remove the leaves on the bottom so they don't foul the water. The flowers will last longer if they aren't exposed to direct sunlight and the water is changed every day. Blooms often last 1-2 weeks.
Dividing Lily Bulbs
Because lily bulbs multiply, they must be divided every few years when they become overcrowded. Dividing and replanting the bulbs in the fall is the best way to ensure flowers the following year. When digging up the bulbs, dig at least 8 inches away from the lily stem. Divide the bulbs and either replant them in your landscape or share them with a gardening friend.