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Growing Lilies
Lilies form a diverse group of perennials with showy
flowers in a wide range of colours. These popular
perennials are amongst the hardiest and easiest
to grow for a warm, sunny border.
Planting
As a general rule, lilies prefer ‘warm hands and cool
feet’. This means full sun and well-drained, cool soil.
Lilies that can perform well in shady areas are
martagons, and some of the species, such as the
western wood lily.
Lilies can be planted any time during the growing season. The soil should be loosened
to a depth of 10-12 inches and amended with organic matter, such as compost. Lily
bulbs should be planted twice as deep as the height of the bulb. For example, bulbs
that are 3 inches tall should be planted 6 inches deep. Adding some bone meal to
the bottom of the hole is appreciated by the bulbs. If transplanting established lilies,
this should be done in the fall.
Watering
Though established lilies can tolerate hot dry periods, they prefer to stay cool and
moist at the root zone. They should receive a good soaking once per week during
hot weather. Mulching can help to conserve soil moisture and keep the roots cool.
While lilies prefer cool, moist roots, they don’t ever want to be in soggy, waterlogged
soil.
Fertilizing
Lilies benefit from regular fertilizing during the growing season, especially while shoots
are developing during spring and early summer. 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 can be applied
twice a month from the time shoots first appear until early August. Alternatively,
organic slow-release fertilizers such as bone meal or granular kelp can be worked
into the soil each spring, as soon as the ground has thawed.
Propagation
With the exception of species, lilies will not generally come true from seed; as well,
seed is difficult to germinate and seedlings take several years to reach flowering size.
However, many lilies produce small offshoots, called bulbils, which will be identical
to the mother plant. You will see these tiny plants appear around the base of the
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plant; sometimes they develop from the mother bulb, while other times they develop
on the stem and drop to the ground. Bulbils can be separated and replanted, and will
take a couple years to produce flowers.
Lilies can also be propagated by separating scales from the mother bulb. This should
be done in fall. Scales will root and develop a small bulb eventually. Take care not to
remove more than a few scales from a bulb at a time.
TYPES OF LILIES
Asiatic
• The most common type of lily, and the easiest, hardiest lily
to grow.
• Range from dwarf (12”) to medium height (24”) with medium
sized flowers which are not fragrant. Wide colour range,
blooms midseason (late June to July).
• Clump-forming.
Oriental
• The most popular lily for cutflowers.
• Medium to tall plants with large flowers that have a strong
sweet/spicy fragrance.
• Most common colours are pink, red, white, and yellow, blooms
late season (mid-July to August).
• Do not reliably form clumps, but can when happy.
• Require winter protection for best results.
Trumpet
• Tall plants with large flowers which have a distinctive trumpet
shape.
• Available in several colours, often have a spicy fragrance.
• Not all are fully hardy; provide winter protection for best results.
• Late season (mid-July to August).
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OT (Orienpet)
• A cross between an Oriental and a trumpet lily.
• Tend to be more vigorous than either parent type, with even
larger plants and flowers, and more likely to form clumps.
• Available in a wide range of colours.
• Provide winter protection for best results.
• Late season (mid-July to August).
Martagon
• Species and hybrids from Siberia and northern Asia.
• Often called ‘turkscap’ lilies for their down-facing flowers with
reflexed petals.
• Tall plants with small flowers which are produced in great
quantity; mature plants can have hundreds of blooms.
• Leaves are arranged in unusual whorls.
• Coveted by collectors, a variety of colours are available, and
they often have a spicy fragrance. Bloom early (June).
• Clump-forming, extremely hardy, and among the only lilies
that are shade tolerant.
Species
• The most diverse group, including popular varieties like
western wood lily, tiger lily, and coral lily.
• Some are hardier than others.
• Season depends on species.
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