Asiatic Lily – One of My Must-Have Perennials
Truth be told, I never really thought that anyone reads this blog (apart from my mother and maybe one or two other people). I write it because it’s fun, and it’s a way for me to keep a visual record of our garden–something I never did for any of the the other gardens I’ve tended before but have learned is very important.
However, recently I have been getting a lot of inquiries about past posts I’ve written and the main crux of what many are asking is where I purchased my plants and also, specifically, what varieties I grow in our garden here in central Pennsylvania. So I guess other people are reading it from time to time. Whoops! I promise from here on out to try to be as detailed as possible beginning with these Asiatic lilies, which are on my must-have list of perennials for the garden. 🙂
These pictures were taken last summer, in our zone 6 garden. I have several beds of lilies, actually, but the pictures above show them growing in a part sun location in the northern part of our garden. They are also planted in a full sun bed in the south-facing part of the garden, and they do equally well in each. The soil they are planted in has had several layers of compost added over the last few seasons, so it is rich and well draining. I always interplant other perennials at their base (such as Echinacea, Lavender and Sedum) so that their “faces are in the sun and feet are in the shade.”
Asiatic lilies don’t take up much space since they are not very wide and grow straight up, but sometimes I do need to stake them if they start to get floppy. In our region they bloom late June and into July and attract pollinators. These particular lilies I purchased from White Flower Farm and although they are more expensive now (100 for $115), at the time I purchased them I was paying about .50/bulb! You may be able to find them for less money somewhere else, but these that I purchased at WFF were in great shape and bloomed beautifully the first season. For easy, summertime color, Asiatic lilies can not be beat which is why they are on my must-have list of perennials. PS, if you want to keep the lily show going, plant Oriental lilies for late summer bloom.
I also love those lilies- but unfortunately as the deer have moved into my yard, they also ate the Asiatic buds like candy. They’re so easy ad pop up above my other blooms.
Oh those deer!
See… told you there other’s reading your blog, which is just going to grow and grow – like your garden!
Hooray! 🙂
Very helpful information since I live in northern NJ and I’m trying to grow some perennial plants in my garden. Yours is beautiful, congratulations!! ; )good job!
I’m so glad it helps! 🙂
I brought my Asiatic lily plants (orange) already in bloom and planted them in large clay yard pots. Had a rain storm for three days and my the pedals fell off but the plant itself is still healthy. Will this plant flower and bloom again.
Hi Trish, Asiatic lilies only bloom once/season, lasting about 2-3 weeks. Don’t cut the stem and leaves to the ground–leave them to collect sunlight and store energy in the bulb for next year’s bloom cycle. Your lily stem may also form “bulbils” which can be planted to make future lilies. Here’s some more information on growing and propagating lilies…
I went to your site about propagating lillies and there is a bankruptcy notice on the screen…?? I tried it twice, came up both times. Maybe I just hit something wrong. I enjoy your pictures.
Hi Linda! The link was for my former blog which is no longer in existence, and now, oddly, it looks like some random person has taken the same name? Strange. Anyways, thank you for reminding me to correct this post and I apologize for the inconvenience!
Thank you. Your Asiatic lily post answered my question, exact same thing happened here, almost the same date 🙁
Now, with room for five plants, and holes in the drip system cut, I guess I have no choice but to replant now… or it will be a long, colorless patio planter.
Thanks again. Exactly what I needed to know.
I’m reading in the UK, and you answered my asiatic lolly question perfectly
I enjoy your blog. I keep my lilies in a pot, they do well, the sent is sentsational,. Thanks for the info, hope to plant more, like your color combinations
Thank you Cheryl! 😀
I have a question after your asiatic lily flowers fall off and you kept it in the pot you received the lilies in do you keep watering the flowers do you cut down the flower stems low like roses outside. I received this asiatic lily in a plastic pot and I live in Ohio and we get snow. I need to know can you plant this flower in the spring or will they die in winter.
Hi Jane, you can go ahead and plant these into your garden and they’ll come back year after year. The stalk with the leaves needs to remain as long as possible so that it can store food in the bulb for next year’s flowers, so make sure you do not cut it back until it turns brown and dies. (Cutting my lily stalks down to the base is usually a late fall chore in our garden.) 🙂
PS White Flower Farm has some great tips for growing Asiatic Lilies HERE.