Are you looking to add a touch of elegance and beauty to your garden? Look no further than lilies!
These stunning flowers come in various colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a versatile and popular choice among gardeners. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, growing lilies can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to grow them in your garden.
Getting Started:
Before you start planting your lilies, it’s important to choose the right location. Lilies must have well-drained soil and prefer a spot that receives full sun or light shade. Clear the area of any weeds or debris and prepare the soil by loosening it with a garden fork to a depth of 8-12″.
Planting Lilies
The rule of thumb for all bulbs is to plant them 2-3 times as deep as they are tall. This means they’ll be planted at a depth of approximately 6″. Plant them a few inches deeper if you have trouble with chipmunks, squirrels, and voles. Water once after planting.
Choosing the Right Lily
With thousands of varieties, selecting the suitable one for your garden can seem overwhelming.
Here are some popular types to consider:
Asiatic Lilies:
These lilies come in a wide range of colors and are known for their upward-facing flowers. They are unscented, perfect for people who do not care for the usual lily fragrance.
The lily blooms from early to mid-summer and are ideal for containers. The bulbs are hardy in zones 4-8. They attract pollinators. Flowerbulb. eu has selected the Asiatic Lily as The Flower Bulb of the Year in 2024.
Oriental Lilies:
A favorite among gardeners because of their exceptionally large blooms and intoxicating fragrance. Orientals are generally tall, perfect for the back of the border, and will need staking.
‘Stargazer,’ a well-known variety, was named because the open flowers face upward as if they are gazing at the stars. They are hardy in zones 4-8. The flower is in mid-to-late summer, after Asiatic lilies. They attract pollinators.
Double Oriental Lilies:
Originally bred for the cut flower industry, these double-flowering lilies have extra petals but no anthers or stamens, so there is no messy pollen. It also means they flower for an even more extended period. These do not attract pollinators.
They reach 2-3’tall and are ideal for cutting gardens, perennial borders, and containers. Hardy to zones 4-8.
LA Hybrids ( L. Longiflorum + Asiatic Lilies):
The flowers face upwards and have a light fragrance. Most varieties are 4′ tall and hardy in zones 4-8. These lilies tolerate warmer climates than many others and are suitable for northern and southern gardens. Attracts pollinators.
OT Hybrids (Oriental + Trumpet Lilies):
These hybrids are also called Orientpets. They flower in mid-to-late summer with enormous, waxy petals that can be upward or outward-facing flowers.
They can reach 4-6′ and are hardy in zones 4-9. Most varieties have a fabulous fragrance. Attracts pollinators.
Tigridium Lilies: (Tiger lily)
Tiger lily flowers may not be as large as those of other lilies, but they make up for it in sheer numbers. The bright orange blooms with black freckles are a real standout in the garden.
Hardy in zones 3-8, these are one of the most cold-tolerant and longest-lived lilies.
Tips for Lily Care:
Once your lilies are planted, they require minimal care to thrive.
-
Watering: Lilies prefer evenly moist soil, so water them regularly, especially during dry spells. However, be careful not to overwater, which can cause the bulbs to rot. The best practice is to water deeply and less often.
-
Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the bulbs cool.
-
Fertilizing: Lilies benefit from a dose of balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, in the spring as they emerge from the ground. Water thoroughly after fertilizing.
-
Staking: Some varieties may require staking to support their tall stems and heavy blooms. Use bamboo stakes or other supports to keep the plants upright.
-
Deadheading: Once the flowers have finished blooming, remove the spent blooms to encourage the plant to put energy into producing more flowers.
Enjoying Your Lilies
With proper care, your lilies will reward you with beautiful blooms year after year. Whether planting them in a garden bed or container or as cut flowers in a bouquet, lilies will surely add elegance and beauty to any space. So why wait?
Celebrate the Year of the Lily and start growing some today and you will enjoy the beauty of these stunning flowers in your garden all season long.
Happy Gardening!
For more inspiration and education, please visit Flowerbulb. eu
About National Garden Bureau
Founded more than 100 years ago, the National Garden Bureau educates, inspires, and motivates people to grow home gardens. National Garden Bureau members are horticultural experts, and the information shared with you comes directly from these experts to ensure your gardening success.
“This post is provided as an educational/inspirational service of the National Garden Bureau and our members. Please credit and link to National Garden Bureau when using all or parts of this article.”
