Lilies are a timeless garden favorite, loved for their elegant blooms and vibrant colors that brighten summer borders, containers, and cut flower arrangements. Whether you’re drawn to the rich fragrance of Oriental lilies or the bold colors and resilience of Asiatic varieties, these flowering bulbs can be surprisingly easy to grow with the right conditions. With proper care, lilies return year after year, offering height, scent, and structure to your garden design.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to grow lilies successfully—from choosing the best type for your soil to planting times, care tips, pest control, and propagation. No matter your experience level, growing lilies can be a rewarding part of your gardening journey.
Table of Contents
Where to Plant Lilies
Choosing the right location is key to growing healthy, long-lasting lilies. These sun-loving plants thrive in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. While full sun is ideal for most varieties, some species—like martagon, pardalinum, and lancifolium lilies—prefer dappled shade and will even naturalize beautifully under deciduous trees.
Soil quality matters just as much as sunlight. Lilies need moist but well-drained soil, rich in organic matter. They dislike waterlogged conditions, which can lead to bulb rot. When growing in containers, always use deep pots with drainage holes and the right compost for the lily type:
- Oriental lilies: prefer acidic soil or ericaceous compost
- Asiatic lilies: do best in neutral to alkaline soil or peat-free multi-purpose compost
To protect lily stems from strong winds, choose a sheltered spot in your garden or patio. This also helps prevent tall varieties from toppling over as they mature.
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When to Plant Lily Bulbs
For the best results, plant your lilies from late autumn to early spring—any time between October and April. This gives the bulbs enough time to establish strong roots before the growing season begins. You can also plant potted lilies in summer, but bulb planting is usually more cost-effective and gives better long-term results.
Always choose large, firm bulbs with no signs of softness or mold. When planting in the ground or containers, follow this general rule:
➡️ Plant bulbs three times as deep as the bulb’s height, and space them about 15cm (6 inches) apart.
If you’re planting in pots, ensure there is at least 12cm of soil above the bulb. Deeper planting offers extra winter protection, especially in colder regions. Make sure the soil is loose and well-draining to prevent rot and encourage strong root development.
How to Care for Lilies
Caring for lilies properly ensures not only a stunning summer display but also healthy bulbs that return year after year. Once shoots emerge in spring, it’s important to stay on top of support, feeding, and deadheading.
Support tall varieties like Oriental hybrids using plant supports or discreet stakes to keep stems upright, especially in exposed areas. As the plants begin to bloom, feed them fortnightly with a high-potassium fertilizer such as tomato feed. This encourages stronger flowering and helps bulbs store energy for the next season.
After flowering, deadhead spent blooms to stop the plant from producing seeds. This prevents energy loss and encourages better bulb performance. However, don’t cut the stems back completely.
✳️ Only remove the top third—leave the rest in place until it turns brown, allowing photosynthesis to continue.
If you’re growing lilies in pots, move them to a shaded spot after flowering to give the bulbs a chance to rest without heat stress. Always water at the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal problems.
How to Propagate Lilies
After a few seasons, lilies often become crowded as their bulbs multiply. This is a natural opportunity to propagate them and refresh your planting. The best time to divide lilies is in autumn, after the foliage has died back but before the ground becomes too cold.
To get started, use a garden fork to gently lift the clump of bulbs from the soil. Carefully separate the bulbs—each will likely have small offsets attached, which can also be planted. Choose the largest and healthiest bulbs for replanting, either directly into the ground or into pots, depending on your space and design.
Replant the divided bulbs at the same depth as you would newly purchased ones:
➡️ About three times the bulb’s height, spaced 15cm apart.
Regular division every three to four years helps keep your lilies vigorous, prevents overcrowding, and increases your garden’s floral impact without buying new bulbs.
Growing Lilies: Problem Solving
While lilies are generally low-maintenance, one persistent challenge is the red lily beetle. These bright red pests—about 8mm long—can appear from March to October and feed aggressively on leaves, buds, and stems. A telltale sign of their presence is the black, sticky excrement left behind by their larvae.
To protect your lilies:
- Check plants daily, especially the undersides of leaves
- Remove beetles, larvae, and eggs by hand as soon as spotted
- Use an organic insecticide only if absolutely necessary, and avoid spraying during flowering to protect pollinators
Another serious concern is pet safety. All parts of the lily plant—especially pollen and flowers—are extremely toxic to cats. If you have cats that roam your garden or indoor containers, it’s safest to avoid growing lilies altogether.
Good vigilance and responsible planting can keep your lilies blooming beautifully without harming wildlife or pets.
Buying Advice for Lilies
To give your lilies the best start, begin with high-quality bulbs. Look for firm, plump bulbs with no signs of mold, softness, or rot. Healthy bulbs are essential for strong growth and vibrant blooms.
Before purchasing, consider these tips:
- Check the mature height and spread of the variety—some lilies grow to over 1.5m tall
- Match the soil requirements (acidic vs. alkaline) to your garden conditions
- Choose cultivars that suit your garden style—fragrant, dwarf, or bold statement types
While local garden centers carry common varieties, you’ll find a wider selection through specialist nurseries or reputable online retailers. These sources often provide rare hybrids and detailed growing advice tailored to specific lily types.
Buying well-chosen bulbs now means you’re investing in a long-term floral display that can return year after year with minimal effort.
10 Recommended Lily Varieties to Grow
With so many stunning options available, choosing the right lilies can transform your garden from ordinary to unforgettable. Here are ten standout cultivars, each offering something unique in color, height, fragrance, or bloom time:
1. Lilium ‘Dazzler’
A compact, dwarf variety producing up to 10 deep-pink, fragrant blooms per stem. Perfect for pots or smaller borders.
2. Lilium ‘Orange Marmalade’
Star-shaped, delicate orange flowers bloom in early to mid-summer on tall, upright stems. Ideal for the middle of a border.
3. Lilium ‘Nymph’
A towering oriental lily reaching up to 2m, with pale lemon petals and a soft pink stripe. Strong fragrance and dramatic height.
4. Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’
A classic choice with pure white, fragrant blooms and striking red stamens. Great for late-summer impact and cutting gardens.
5. Lilium martagon ‘Arabian Night’
Produces elegant, nodding flowers in mahogany-red and orange, thriving in dappled shade. Excellent for naturalized settings.
6. Lilium ‘Tigrinum Splendens’
Also known as tiger lily, this hardy type features orange, bell-shaped flowers with dark spots. Flowers from August to September.
7. Lilium ‘Firebolt’
A bold oriental hybrid with deep burgundy, almost black flowers and a strong scent. Eye-catching in containers or flower beds.
8. Lilium ‘The Edge’
White-pink blooms with a darker pink edge. Blooms mid-July and is well-suited for cutting and displaying indoors.
9. Lilium ‘Stracciatella Event’
An Asiatic lily with white petals and dramatic purple splashes. Flowers in June and works beautifully in ornamental borders.
10. Lilium ‘Tarrango’
A bright pink oriental lily that grows taller with each year. Offers huge blooms and rich fragrance—ideal for statement planting.
These varieties offer a mix of colors, sizes, and bloom times, ensuring your lilies remain the stars of your garden across the summer months.
Conclusion
Growing lilies is one of the most rewarding ways to add bold color, elegance, and scent to your summer garden. Whether you’re planting in borders or containers, success comes down to choosing the right variety, planting at the correct depth, and giving your lilies the sunlight and support they need.
With proper care and regular division, your lilies will return stronger each year, offering long-lasting beauty with minimal maintenance. Just remember to stay vigilant about pests like the red lily beetle, and always consider pet safety if you have cats at home.
From classic white ‘Casa Blanca’ to striking ‘Firebolt’, there’s a lily for every garden style and skill level. So choose your favorites, plant confidently, and enjoy a spectacular floral display for seasons to come.