What Are the Proper Conditions to Plant a Lily?

Who

• No matter how carefully kept and planted, a lily that is not hardy will not survive more than a few years. Asiatic lilies and Oriental lilies are the hardiest garden hybrids. Trumpets and Lilium longiflorum, often called Easter lily, are less hardy. New hybrids cross Asiatic, Oriental and trumpet lilies, combining the hardiness of the Asiatic, the shape and scents of the Oriental and colors of the trumpet groups. Oriental-trumpet and Longiflorum-Asiatic crosses frequently appear on garden center shelves, while other crosses are grown commercially for florists. Asiatic lilies bloom earliest, from June through July. Others follow throughout summer.

What

• Lilies need well-drained, rich organic soil with a steady supply of moisture. Raised beds provide an alternative that drains well where soil contains large amounts of clay. Lilies have no backup; they have only one, big, fat root --- their bulb --- and most bulbs sit 4 to 8 inches below the surface. Heavy soils hold water and contribute to the spread of diseases. Soil needs well-rotted compost and manure added with cultivation to at least 1 foot deep. Water must drain quickly, but soil should retain moisture. Bulbs require deep watering after planting and during drought.

Where

• Sunlight provides lilies the energy they use to produce flamboyant, long-blooming flowers. The plants require at least six to eight hours of sunlight. The only exceptions to the need for sun are the Martagon hybrids and some North American native species that prosper in dappled shade. Hot afternoon sun can scorch lily flesh, so an eastern exposure provides shelter during the hottest part of the day where summers are hot and dry. Tall lilies may require staking and all lilies welcome shelter from drying winter winds.

When

• Fall is the traditional time for planting lilies because the period when they die down to the ground is as close as lilies come to dormancy. The lily bulb processes nutrients all year round; bulbs that are dug in fall and kept in boxes or warehouses can dry out and die before spring. Lily bulbs may be planted in fall until the first frost. The Madonna lily is an exception; it should be planted in late summer so it can develop its rosette of fall leaves. Lilies from reputable mail order nurseries can be planted in early spring if the bulbs are moist and supple.