Choosing Lilies: Asiatic, Oriental & Species Types for Summer Bloom

Lilies offer elegance with six-petaled, trumpet-shaped summer flowers. Your hardest choices: size vs. fragrance, or color vs. flower count. Here's a breakdown by type.

Asiatic Lilies

Bold, reliable, early summer. 1½–4 ft. stems with 5–7 flowers in gold, orange, pink, red, white (speckled, banded, or clear). Three top-size bulbs yield a dozen blooms next year. Try 'Desert Flower' (yellow), 'Soiree' (red-orange), 'Oklahoma' (gold fading to raspberry tips). Zones A1–A3, 1–9, 14–24.

Oriental Lilies

Bloom as Asiatics finish. Out-facing or upright, white to deep raspberry, often bicolored and spotted—always intensely fragrant. Top bulbs give 3–5 flowers/stem first year, 10–20 at maturity. Try 'Casablanca' (pure white), 'Starfighter' (deep raspberry, red-freckled). In hot inland areas, try 'Conca d'Or' (yellow Oriental/trumpet hybrid). Zones 1–9, 14–24.

Species Lilies

Turk's cap flowers with recurved petals. Humboldt lily (L. humboldtii, zones 3, 7, 14–24): golden orange with maroon dots. Leopard lily (L. pardalinum, zones 2–7, 14–17): orange-red with brown spots. Turk's cap lily (L. martagon, zones 1–10, 14–17): up to 50 flowers/stem.

Cutting & Vase Life

• Cut when buds crack open; leave ⅔ stem to recharge bulb.
• Strip lower leaves; add 1 tsp bleach + pinch sugar to water.
• Pluck off gold/brown stamens to avoid stains.

What Lilies Need

• Plant immediately after purchase (wait for thaw in cold climates).
• Site: Full sun or dappled shade, well-drained soil, away from foot traffic.
• Planting: Holes 6–7 in. apart, 8 in. deep; pointed side up. Water in. Mulch for cool, damp soil.
• Fertilize: Spring top-dress with low-nitrogen fertilizer.
• Water: Regular during growing season; occasional rest of year (bulbs never fully dormant). Exception: Humboldt lily—dry in summer dormancy.

Sources: B&D Lilies, The Lily Garden (360-253-6273).