Lily Bulbs (Fall-Planted)

Lilies, long treasured by gardeners and florists alike, have been cultivated for generations. There’s hardly a flower that has a greater variety of color and fragrance than the elegant lily. Ranging in color from creams and yellows to reds and blacks, lilies put on a spectacular show in the garden, attracting not just the human gaze, but the attention of native pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.

As lovely as lilies are, it comes as no surprise that there are several botanicals striving to be counted among them. However, daylilies, peace lilies, and water lilies are not true lilies. True lilies are perennials that send up a single stem from each bulb, and each stem produces an array of six-petaled flowers. Lilies are a prized cut flower for this reason—harvested at the right time, one stem will contain several buds that open one at a time, for staggered blooming in the vase lasting up to two weeks.

Asiatic lilies are the first to bloom, opening in their star-shaped blooms in June. These compact plants grow three to four feet tall. These striking flowers have no fragrance but are popular with florists. Orientals grow a little taller, four to six feet on average, and begin blooming in July. These massive blooms, stretching up to 10 inches across, are very fragrant and are loved by many. Tiger lilies bloom in midsummer. Oriental trumpet lilies like Anastasia and Purple Prince are a cross between Orientals and Trumpet lilies. OT lilies stand tall like a true Oriental but have the trumpet-like bloom of their other parent.

Plant lilies in fall, around the same time that you’d be planting tulips and daffodils anyway. Aim to have your lily bulbs in the ground at least four weeks before the first frost. Choose a planting site that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight. The soil should have a neutral pH and drain well. Loosen the soil about a foot down with a broadfork. Plant lily bulbs about six inches deep, in groups of three to five for the best effect. Plant single bulbs or clumps eight to ten inches apart. Water the bulbs deeply, and once the stems sprout, mulch the plants to hold in moisture.

When harvesting lilies, be sure to only cut half of the stalk. Leaving a portion of the stalk allows the plant to rejuvenate and come back season after season. If you prefer to leave your lilies to bloom in the garden, be sure to deadhead spent stems for maximum performance.

Now that you understand the difference between Asiatic, Oriental, and other lesser-known lilies varieties, you can clearly see that you need a mix of them all. Check out 60 Days of Lilies for maximum color and fragrance all season long. Or, look into Eden Brothers' other 13 varieties of lilies and assemble a personal blend for your garden. For more information about planting, growing, and harvesting fall-planted lily bulbs, see the Lily Flower Planting Guide.