What are lilies?
Lilies are summer bulbs that produce large, showy bell- trumpet- or bowl-shaped blooms. Unlike many other plants we call bulbs, lilies are “true bulbs''—meaning they contain a full plant within a neat, scaly little package. And despite their common names, daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) and calla lilies (Zantedeschia spp.) are not true lilies (Lilium spp.).
Why grow lilies
Lilies are a great addition to the garden, for many reasons:
- They are easy to handle, plant, and grow.
- In most locations, they’ll come back year after year.
- Lilies come in a wide array of colors.
- Many lilies are fragrant.
- Pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds feed on lily pollen and nectar.
- Lilies make great cut flowers.
Sunday Tip:
If you harvest flowers to use in arrangements or bouquets, remove the anthers (the slender stalk inside the flower with colorful, powdery pollen on them) as soon as the blooms open to prevent pollen from staining everything around.
How to plant lilies
Lilies can be planted in fall or spring. Make sure the lilies you buy are suited for your hardiness zone, then choose a sunny spot for your new lilies and clear out all the existing vegetation before planting.
- Plan your placement. Clumps of odd numbers of lily bulbs spaced about 1 foot apart or singular statement pieces scattered throughout the garden look best. Lilies also do well in containers!
- Dig your holes. Most lilies can be planted about 5 inches deep—this gives any adventitious roots (roots that form on the side of the stem) room to explore the soil. When possible, dig individual holes for your bulbs to limit soil disruption.
- Plant your bulbs. Place the lily bulbs with the pointed side facing up. Then cover with soil, add a few inches of mulch to help crowd out weeds and prevent fluctuations in soil temperature or moisture, and water deeply.
Sunday Tip:
Label the newly planted area so you don’t forget where your lilies are while you wait for them to sprout!
How to care for lilies
Once the ground thaws in spring, irrigate to keep the soil around your lilies moist, but don’t overwater—soggy soil can lead to rotten bulbs. Fertilize every 4–6 weeks after shoots emerge to make sure your lilies are well-fed and if your lilies get too tall and start to flop over, you can always secure them to a stake. Bonus tip: Unlike most other summer bulbs, fall digging and overwinter storage is not needed for lilies, so sit back and enjoy your blooms for years to come!
Cited sources
Plant of the Week: Asiatic Lilies. University of Illinois - Champaign.
Lilies Bring Summer Color to Your Garden (truelily). University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Plant of the Week: Asiatic Lilies. University of Illinois-Champaign.
Yard and Garden: Planting Lilies. Iowa State University.
