If you want to look like a gardening pro, include lilies in your garden. Lilies are incredibly easy to grow and their trumpet-shaped flowers look so impressive in the summer garden. They’re also showy in bouquets and cut-flower displays.
One of the oldest cultivated plants, lilies have been hybridized extensively and are now available in a wide range of colors, heights and bloom times. Lilies are grown from bulbs and perform best when planted in well-drained soil and in full sun (six or more hours of direct sunlight daily) to partial shade.
With a bit of planning, you can find lilies to fit your gardening situation, from low-growing Border Lilies to the tall Giant Lilies, as well as your color scheme. By selecting a combination of Asiatic and Oriental Lilies, you can enjoy lily flowers for months. While there are many lily types, we’ve highlighted some of the most common types of lilies.
Asiatic Lily
If you’re looking for amazing color choices and loads of blooms, Asiatic Lilies are a great choice. They produce up to 12 flowers per bulb, and bloom early in the lily season. They have strong stems, so they’re great for upright displays in the garden and cut-flower arrangements. Some Asiatic Lilies are free of pollen.
- Lilium Asiatic
- Grow 36-48 inches tall
- Bloom early to midsummer
- Grow best in full sun to partial shade
- Zones 3-8
Oriental Lily
Love sweet fragrance wafting over your summer garden? You’ll want to include Oriental Lilies. These gorgeous flowers are known for their sweet fragrance and large flowers—often 6-9 inches across. Often called the bouquet flowers, Oriental Lilies are used in bridal bouquets. Oriental Lilies bloom after the Asiatic Lilies, often in mid to late summer.
- Lilium oriental
- Grow 36-48 inches tall
- Bloom mid to late summer
- Grow best in full sun to partial shade
- Zones 3-8
Border Lily
Gardeners and garden visitors alike love lilies, and they really treasure up-close looks at the flowers. Hybridizers realized this early on and bred shorter growing lilies with full-sized flowers. Border Lilies may be Asiatic or Oriental, so their bloom times can vary from early to late summer. They usually grow 14-18 inches tall, making them ideal for planting near garden edges and walkways, as well as in containers. They also make spectacular cut flowers.
- Lilium
- Grow 14-18 inches tall
- Bloom time varies by variety
- Grow best in full sun to partial shade
- Zones 3-8
Giant Lily
These lilies are sure to impress with their flowers and height. Also known as Giant Orienpet, they’re a cross between Oriental and Trumpet Lilies. During the first year, they usually grow 3-4 ft. tall with large, sweet-smelling blooms that are 3-6 inches across. By the second year, their sturdy stems can shoot up to 5-6 ft. Within three years, they can grow as tall as 6-8 ft. tall with masses of flowers that are often fragrant. The mature flowers can be as large as 7-12 inches across, and look stunning in the garden as well as cut-flower arrangements. Giant Lilies bloom in early to midsummer.
- Lilium or Lilium OT hybrid
- Grow 36-72 inches tall
- Bloom early to midsummer
- Grow best in full sun to partial shade
- Zones 3-8
Double Lily
These cultivars feature layer upon layer of petals, creating a luxurious look when planted in groups in the garden or as a single bloom in a bud vase. Double Lilies may be Asiatic or Oriental hybrids, so their bloom times can vary from early to late summer. Double Lilies are usually pollen free, making them a favorite for cut-flower arrangements.
- Lilium
- Grow 36-48 inches tall
- Bloom time varies from early to late summer
- Grow best in full sun to partial shade
- Zones 3-8
Where can you grow lilies?
Lilies grow well in mixed perennial beds as well as massed together. When planting lily bulbs, keep in mind that they look best when planted in groups. Like other plants, lilies prefer well-drained soil. Suitable for zones 3-8, they can be grown in much of the United States. They prefer full sun to partial shade. Many lily bulbs can be planted in the spring or fall.
K. van Bourgondien carries lots of varieties of lilies, including Asiatic, Oriental, Border, Giant and Double Lilies as well as other types. Our selection of plump, healthy bulbs offers some of the best in color choices and performance. Choose your favorites for your professional-looking garden and shop our wide selection of lily bulbs for sale today.