My garden of lilies
Diane Peck
Lily flowers are prized for their large, showy, often fragrant blooms. Six plain or strikingly marked tepals ("petals") are often trumpet-shaped atop tall, erect stems.
Note: This guide covers "true" lilies (genus Lilium), which grow from plump, scaly bulbs. Asiatic and Oriental lilies are true lilies. Daylilies and peace lilies, despite the name, are not. Learn more about true lilies.
These hardy bulbs are easy to grow with minimal care, provided they're planted in the right spot.
At home in formal and naturalistic settings, lilies also take readily to containers. All make wonderful cut flowers!
By blending early, mid-season, and late varieties, enjoy magnificent blooms from spring through frost.
Planting Lilies
- Plant lily bulbs in autumn.
- Note: Lilies don't thrive in Zones 9–10 without refrigeration—they need a cold, dormant period.
- Select a well-drained site. After rain, the first spot to dry out is ideal. Water trapped beneath scales rots bulbs.
- Choose full sun—6–8 hours daily for dependable blooms. Too much shade causes leaning, spindly stems that fall over.
- Most popular varieties prefer acidic to neutral soil; some tolerate lime or prefer alkaline (e.g., Madonna lilies).
- Loosen soil 12–15 inches deep. Deep planting encourages stem-rooting for stability (may eliminate staking) and keeps bulbs cool in heat.
- Enrich with leaf mold or well-rotted organic matter for drainage.
- Dig holes 2–3 times bulb height. Set bulb pointy side up. Fill and tamp gently.
- Space bulbs at 3x bulb diameter. For impact, plant in groups of 3–5.
- Water thoroughly.
- See more lily-growing tips.
Care Through the Seasons
- In active growth, water freely, especially if rainfall <1 inch/week.
- Keep lilies mulched for cool roots—mulch should feel moist, not wet.
- Apply high-potassium liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks from early spring until 6 weeks post-flowering.
- Keep moist in winter.
- Each spring: thin compost layer + 2-inch mulch.
- Stake tall lilies.
- Lilies don't rebloom, but remove faded flowers to prevent seed-making energy waste.
- Leave foliage until brown in fall—critical for energy storage. Cut dead stalks in late fall or early spring.
- Before winter, add 4–6 inches of mulch to delay ground freeze and allow root growth. Remove mulch after last hard frost in spring.
- Divide every 3–4 years as new spring growth begins. Lift, divide into clumps, replant with compost and bonemeal.
Pests and Diseases
- Gray mold—especially in wet, cool springs/summers. Ensure air circulation and avoid crowding.
- Viruses (spread by aphids)—some cultivars are virus-tolerant.
- Red lily beetles, slugs, snails.
- Deer, rabbits, voles, groundhogs may eat entire plants. Consider wire cages for bulbs if problematic.
Harvest and Storage: Displaying Lilies in Vases
- Choose lilies with buds just about to open (not tight green), showing a hint of color.
- Trim stem ends ~1 inch on a diagonal with a sharp knife immediately upon bringing indoors.
- To prevent orange pollen stains, snip off stamens in flower centers.
- Remove lower leaves so no foliage sits underwater.
- A good arrangement lasts 2+ weeks. Change water every few days.
- Add cut-flower food at half the recommended rate for other flowers.
Recommended Varieties
Of nine divisions, Asiatic and Oriental are most popular with gardeners.
- Asiatic lilies — earliest to bloom, easiest to grow. Hybrids in pure white, pinks, vivid yellows, oranges, reds; heights 1–6 feet. Intense breeding reduced fragrance, but they're favorites with floral arrangers.
- Oriental hybrids — bloom mid- to late summer as Asiatics fade. From 2-foot dwarfs to 8-foot giants (shorter ones great for patio/containers). Adored for intoxicating fragrance intensifying after dark. Massive white, pink, red, or bi-color blooms. Superb cut flowers filling large rooms with spicy scent.
Wit & Wisdom
- The name "lily" is misleading—many plants use it besides true lilies. Daylilies, water lilies, lilies-of-the-valley, and lilyturf aren't lilies at all. Identity theft existed long before computers!
- In flower beds, lilies prosper with low companion plants that protect roots from drying out.
