With their charming star-shaped and vibrantly colored blooms, lilies are a delightful addition to any summer garden. However, if you’re in an area with harsh winters, these perennial flowers will need some extra care during the fall. Luckily, our guide to growing lilies has got you covered with all the information you need to ensure your garden is filled with beautiful blooms.
Lilies are renowned for their elegant appearance and sweet fragrance. You can enjoy their magnificent blooms from early summer until the first frost by mixing early, mid, and late varieties. These versatile flowers thrive in both formal and naturalistic settings, and they can even grow in containers. Plus, they make fantastic cut flowers!
Typically, lilies have six simple or marked tepals, and they are trumpet-shaped, growing on tall stalks with long, narrow leaves. They come in an array of colors, ranging from pink and gold to red, orange, and white.
There are various types of lilies, such as oriental, asiatic, and species types. When planting lilies to create a series of blooms, it’s essential to remember that asiatic lilies usually blossom first, followed by orientpets and then oriental varieties.
Asiatic lilies are the shortest lily species, growing between two and three feet tall. They bloom in early summer after peonies and prefer well-drained soil. While they don’t have much fragrance, their bright colors are sure to bring cheer to your garden.
Easter lilies are commonly grown indoors as holiday plants, but they can also thrive outdoors in warmer regions of North America. They bloom around Easter and should be transplanted into the garden after flowering.
Oriental lilies have a famously strong scent and can grow up to four feet tall. They tend to be slower growers and often bloom later than asiatic lilies.
Trumpet lilies resemble oriental lilies and produce many flowers with a beautiful fragrance. Their flowers tend to be smaller and more closed like a trumpet than those of other lily types.
In addition to the above types, tiger lilies, martagon lilies, and hybrids such as ‘Orienpet’ and ‘LA’ lilies are also available. So, head over to your favorite online gardening supplies retailer’s catalog and find the lily type that suits your style best!
