Lilies, with their graceful elegance and captivating fragrance, can transform any garden into a blooming spectacle from early summer to autumn. The key is to carefully blend early, mid-season, and late varieties, ensuring a continuous display of magnificent blooms from spring to the first frost. Whether in formal landscapes or naturalistic settings, lilies thrive in containers and make splendid cut flowers.
These six-petaled wonders, often trumpet-shaped and perched atop tall, upright stems with lance-shaped leaves, come in a stunning array of colors—pink, gold, red, orange, and white. Popular lily species include Orientals, Asiatics, Orientpets, and species, each with its unique bloom time.
Asiatic lilies (Lilium sp. – “Asiatic hybrids”) steal the show in early summer, immediately following peonies, showcasing a variety of colors from pastels to tropicals. Their compact stature (2 to 3 feet tall) adds a burst of vibrant color to the garden, although they are less fragrant.
Oriental lilies (Lilium sp. – “Oriental hybrids”) take the stage with their renowned strong fragrance, towering at 4 feet. Blooming in mid to late summer, they complement the fading Asiatic lilies, creating a delightful succession of scents and colors.
Trumpet lilies (Lilium sp. – “Trumpet hybrids”), resembling Oriental lilies, emit a pleasant fragrance and boast smaller, trumpet-shaped flowers. Other lily varieties include tiger lilies (Lilium henryi), Turkish lilies (Lilium superbum), and hybrids like “Orienpet” (oriental + trumpet) and “LA” lilies (Easter + Asiatic).
To bring this vibrant array to your garden, explore online gardening catalogs to find the lilies that resonate with your preferences and create a botanical masterpiece.”
