Lilies

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Tips & Growing Instructions: Lilies

Lilies are breathtaking and eye-popping due to their bright and vibrant colors. Lily flowers can be orange, pink, yellow, purple, red, or white. Often trumpet shaped, lilies have six tepals or petals and sit on top of long, erect stems with narrow and lance-shaped leaves. Lily bulbs are made of fleshy scales without a protective coating, so they never go fully dormant and lose moisture quickly. Handle them with care and plant anytime before the ground freezes. Let’s learn how to plant these easy-to-grow bulbs.

How to Plant Lily Bulbs

Choose a sunny spot, preferably with light, porous soil enriched with compost. The ideal spot is one where the plants get full sun at the tops and shade at the soil level to keep the ground moist. Enrich the soil with plenty of organic matter such as compost or leaf mold. Plant lily bulbs with roots down, scales up, 15 cm deep and 23-30 cm apart so they can spread naturally. Water well two or three times before winter. For the best display, group lilies in clusters of three or more. After flowering, allow the foliage to yellow and drop naturally; this feeds the bulb for stronger growth next year. Over time, your lilies will multiply, delivering an even more spectacular display each season.

Types of Lilies

Asiatic Lilies – Among the earliest lilies to bloom, Asiatic Lilies are hardy, easy to grow, and come in a wide range of vivid colors. Perfect for beds, borders, and containers, with strong stems that rarely need staking.
Oriental Lilies – Large, exotic blooms and intoxicating fragrance make these summer stars unforgettable. They flower later than Asiatics, extending the lily season and making exquisite cut flowers.
Lily Trees – Also called “Orienpet” hybrids, these towering beauties can reach 6–8 feet tall, producing dozens of huge, fragrant blooms. Ideal for creating dramatic focal points in the garden.
Carpet Lilies – Low-growing and compact, these lilies form a colorful, spreading mat of blooms, perfect for borders, edging, and containers.
Pollen-Free Lilies – All the beauty of lilies without the mess or allergies. Perfect for cutting and indoor arrangements, with no pollen to stain clothing or furniture.