June Perennial of the Month-Lily

I cannot picture summer without true lilies. (Lilium spp.) True lilies, not to be confused with daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.), are bulbs. And for most gardeners, bulbs=easy.

Honestly, you plant them in the ground (either early spring or fall-they are THAT easy!) don’t have to water, just wait. You can plant a lily bulb upside down, and they will still flower! They come in a rainbow of colors, sizes, and scents that can fit almost any garden setting, from a small container on a windowsill to a robust planting in a sizeable mixed-flower border.

The classifications are where many gardeners get confused. There are currently nine divisions for true lilies. The North American Lily Society has a great website with all things lily-check it out here; North American Lily Society – A great place to learn about lilies.

When carousing through garden catalogs, the most common lily divisions you’ll encounter are the Asiatic, Oriental, Trumpet/Aurelian, and Species lilies. There are also hybrids between divisions, making things even more confusing for the beginning lily grower. The key, as always, is RESEARCH!

A lily’s division category can tell you much about it without reading an in-depth description.

Asiatic hybrids are some of the easiest to grow with the broadest range of colors. They, unfortunately, are usually not fragrant. Oriental hybrids like the popular ‘Stargazer’ or ‘Casa Blanca’ cultivars are usually fragrant but a bit pickier to grow successfully.  (I remember which is which by “O” for odor”) Trumpet lilies all have a distinct trumpet shape to the flower, and species lilies are those lilies you could find in the wild, which happen to be the parents (no matter how distant) of the hybrids and cultivars commonly found in the trade.

Color and fragrance are the two most common traits factored in when choosing true lilies. Again, RESEARCH your selections! Check height always. Some lily monsters can grow 6’ or more and will require staking. The main thing is to enjoy your lilies, either in the garden or in a vase indoors.

P.S. For those of you who are curious, there were 6146 babies named Lily in 2023, according to the Social Security Administration.

What I love about this plant;

-Easy to plant and forget.

-Comes in a vast range of colors, sizes, and shapes.

-Makes an excellent cut flower.

-Some are highly fragrant.

What’s not so great;

-The Oriental lilies can be short-lived and fussier than the other types. Good, acidic, humus-rich soil with plenty of organic mulch to keep the roots cool will help.

-Lily bulbs can be pricey…again, research before you buy, especially online.

-The taller varieties will require staking. Nothing is more depressing than seeing your 5’ high lilies in bud break off in a summer storm. (No, they don’t rebloom!)

-Rabbits, deer, you name it- they love lilies as much as we do. Sprays like Deer OUT, or physical barriers work best.

-The scent of some Oriental lilies is VERY strong. This is a plus for some, but not so much for those with fragrance intolerances or sensitivities.

Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2024, All rights reserved.