Planning a Lily Garden: Choosing and Ordering Bulbs for Spectacular Blooms

Timing Your Lily Planting

Lily bulbs are planted in fall for spring/summer bloom. Order now for autumn delivery; planting in spring is too late for this year's flowers.

Selecting the Right Lily Varieties

Oriental lilies like 'Casablanca' are famously fragrant, reliable, and stunning. They need full sun (afternoon shade is fine), excellent drainage, rich soil amended with bone meal, and staking for their tall stems.

Soil Preparation and Planting Requirements

Work in plenty of organic matter and bone meal before planting. Plant bulbs 6–8 inches deep, spaced 8–12 inches apart. Stake at planting time to avoid damaging roots later.

Top Sources for Quality Lily Bulbs

• Van Engelen Bulbs (vanengelen.com) offers wholesale quantities; 100 'Casablanca' for about $145.
• B&D Lilies (lilybulb.com) sells 6 'Casablanca' for ~$32.

Tips for Growing 100 Lilies Successfully

Start preparing beds now. Ensure the site gets 6+ hours of sun. Plant in groups for impact. Mulch well and water consistently. Your ambitious vision is absolutely achievable with good planning.