About the Lily Flower

Lily Description

• Popular lily garden flowers begin as bulbs that have overlapping scales and grow to have rigid stems and narrow leaves. The mostly fragrant blossoms have a trumpet, bell or bowl shape that range in colors from white, yellow and orange to red, pink and maroon. Some varieties of lily have two colors on each bloom. Each individual bulb may eventually grow into a group of stems, filling the garden area. Full-size lilies are 2 to 8 feet high and bloom as various times of the summer, depending on the variety.

Common Varieties

• There are hundreds of varieties of lily flowers that thrive in climates across the United States. Some lilies are hardy in cold climates while others prefer warmer weather. When you are shopping for lilies, choose a variety rated for your USDA zone to ensure that you have a plant that can survive and thrive in your garden. The Asiatic and oriental varieties are hardy in northern climates and will also grow in the south. Some Asiatic varieties are enchantment, corsica, crete, dawn star and Connecticut king. Popular oriental varieties include stargazer, yellow ribbons, casa blanca, journey's end and black beauty. Easter lilies are popular in hot climates along coastal areas. The Madonna lily, trumpet lily and tiger lily thrive in the South.

Planting Lilies

• Lily flowers enjoy moist, well-drained soil in a sunny location. You can plant the bulbs in either spring or fall in your garden. Dig planting holes that are 6 to 10 inches deep and are 6 to 10 inches apart. After you place the bulb in the hole, you need at least 4 to 6 inches of soil on top of the bulb. Allow the bulbs to establish themselves before applying fertilizer. After the shoots begin to show through the ground, apply 5-10-10 fertilizer each month. As the lilies grow, stake the tallest varieties to keep them sturdy.

Long-term Care

• After the flowers bloom each season, trim the browned leaves and apply mulch over the area to protect the bulb throughout the winter. Winter mulch is not necessary in warm climates with little ground freeze and for well-established bulbs. Remove winter mulch after the threat of frost is over each spring before new shoots begin to appear. Apply 5-10-10 fertilizer to the exposed soil. Rabbits and slugs will damage new shoots. Routinely inspect your plants for the presence of slugs and if necessary, fence the flowers to keep rabbits away. Aphids will also attack the new flower buds and require removal. Lilies are susceptible to fungal disease if the leaves remain wet for extended periods. To avoid fungal disease, water the plants in the early morning so that the sun dries the leaves quickly. Toward the end of each growing season, break off dead or dying blossoms.