Lilies, with their majestic blooms and captivating fragrances, are a favorite in gardens worldwide. While many plants carry the name “lily,” true lilies belong to the Lilium genus, distinguished by their trumpet-shaped flowers that paint summer gardens in a spectrum of colors. These bulbous perennials are celebrated for their ease of cultivation and their reliable return each year, bringing beauty with minimal effort.
True lilies showcase remarkable diversity, ranging from petite varieties perfect for rock gardens to towering tree lilies ideal for back borders. Their flowers span a wide palette, from pristine whites to deep purples, ensuring a lily for every garden aesthetic.
Growing Lilies: Essential Steps
Cultivating Conditions for Lilies
Lilies thrive in locations that receive ample sunlight, yet they also flourish in spots with partial shade, particularly during the hottest part of the day. Well-drained soil that retains moisture is crucial. Enhance soil quality by incorporating generous amounts of organic matter during planting. For heavy clay soils, improve drainage by placing bulbs on a bed of coarse sand or gravel.
Soil pH preferences vary among lily species. While some, like Lilium candidum, L. henryi, L. longiflorum, L. martagon, L. pardalinum, and L. regale, favor or tolerate lime, most prefer lime-free soil. Modern lily hybrids typically exhibit greater tolerance for alkaline conditions.
Exploring Types of Lilies
The world of true lilies is rich and diverse, with several popular types to choose from:
- Asiatic Hybrids: Known for their trumpet, bowl-shaped, or Turk’s cap flowers. Space bulbs approximately 45cm (18 inches) apart.
- Martagon Hybrids: Distinguished by Turk’s cap-shaped flowers. Plant these with 30cm (12 inches) spacing.
- Candidum Hybrids: Feature striking trumpet-shaped flowers with strongly reflexed petals. Space them 30cm (12 inches) apart.
- American Hybrids: Primarily display Turk’s cap-shaped flowers. Allow 45cm (18 inches) between bulbs.
- Oriental Hybrids: Offer a variety of flower shapes, including trumpet, bowl-shaped, flat, or recurved. Spacing ranges from 30-45cm (12-18 inches) depending on the plant’s mature height.
Planting Your Lily Bulbs
Lily bulbs can be planted either in the autumn or spring. Planting depth is determined by whether the lily is stem-rooting or basal-rooting. Stem-rooting lilies, which develop roots above the bulb as well as below, require deeper planting. Generally, plant stem-rooting lilies 15-20cm (6-8 inches) deep and basal-rooting lilies 5-7.5cm (2-3 inches) deep.
To keep the bulb area cool, consider shading the base of the stems by planting low-growing plants around them.
Many lilies thrive in containers, particularly Asiatic, Oriental, and Trumpet hybrids. When planting in pots, space bulbs evenly, maintaining at least 2.5-5cm (1-2 inches) between them. Use a quality potting mix such as John Innes No 3 Compost. Lily bulbs can remain in containers for several years before needing division and replanting.
Best Locations to Plant Lilies
Lilies are versatile and can enhance various garden settings:
- Flower borders and beds
- Patios
- Containers
- City and courtyard gardens
- Informal and cottage gardens
- Rock gardens
Lily Plant Care: Nurturing for Best Blooms
Essential Lily Care Practices
After planting, apply a 5-7.5cm (2-3 inches) layer of mulch over the soil and replenish it annually. Lilies planted in the ground may not require frequent watering, but monitor soil moisture during extended dry periods in summer. Container-grown lilies will need regular watering throughout spring and summer whenever the soil feels dry.
Fertilize lilies in spring with a slow or controlled-release fertilizer. Supplement with liquid feeds throughout the growing season, especially as they begin to flower. This ensures they receive the nutrients needed for vibrant blooms.
While most lilies have sturdy stems, taller varieties exceeding 90cm (3 feet) may benefit from staking, especially in windy locations, to prevent stem breakage.
Once flowers fade, promptly deadhead them by removing spent blooms and developing seed pods. Continue to nurture the plants after flowering—a weekly liquid feed is beneficial. This helps the bulbs store energy for next year’s blooms. Allow the foliage to die back naturally in autumn before cutting stems down to ground level.
Most lily types are fully hardy and can remain in the ground throughout winter.
After several years, lilies may become crowded. Lift and divide the bulbs, separating bulbils to rejuvenate your plantings and propagate new plants.
| Flowering season(s) | Summer |
|---|---|
| Foliage season(s) | Spring, Summer |
| Sunlight | Partial shade, Full sun |
| Soil type | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy |
| Soil pH | Neutral |
| Soil moisture | Moist but well-drained |
| Ultimate height | Up to 1.8m (6ft) depending on variety |
| Ultimate spread | Up to 45cm (18in) |
| Time to ultimate height | 1 year |
