With large, showy blooms, lilies add striking elegance in the garden from early to midsummer. Grown from bulbs, these perennial flowers are best planted in the autumn and will return year after year with minimal care—as long as they’re planted in the right place. Learn more in our Lilies Growing Guide.
Where is the best place to plant lilies?
Lilies should be planted where they can get full sun or at least half day sun. In hot climates they appreciate being shaded from afternoon heat. Though lilies don’t take up a lot of space in the garden, they also don’t like to be crowded.
Can I plant lily bulbs now?
You can plant lilies any time during the autumn, winter or early spring, whether you are planting them in the ground or in pots. As long as your bulbs are in by the end of March, they will be fine.
Should I soak lily bulbs before planting?
Most lilies prefer a cool root run but like their heads in the sun. … Soak the lily bulbs over night in cold water before planting them if they look a little soft. Lilies can be planted from late autumn to early spring.
How long do lily bulbs last?
Most bulbs, if stored correctly, can be kept for about 12 months before needing to be planted. The longevity of flowering bulbs is largely determined by the adequacy of the storage provided.
Do lilies multiply?
Lilies are cold hardy in zones 4-9, so the bulbs may be left right in the garden for the entire winter. Over time, most lily bulbs will multiply and the plants will grow into large clumps with many stems. Lily bulbs don’t mind being crowded and it’s rarely necessary to divide them.
How deep do you plant lily bulbs in pots?
Plant stem-rooting lilies at a depth roughly two-and-a-half times the height of the bulb. The bulbs should be planted with their basal plate (which has hair-like roots hanging down from it) facing downwards, and the pointed tip of the bulb scales pointing upwards.
Should I deadhead lilies?
Deadheading lilies will encourage more flowers to form and prolong their display. It will also divert energy away from seed production, which can reduce flowering performance in subsequent years. If you’re growing martagon lilies, don’t deadhead these as these will gradually self-seed.
What to do when lilies have finished flowering?
Deadheading is what to do when lilies have finished flowering. The care for lilies after flowering begins with deadheading. Spent flowers should be removed regularly. Lily blooms can be cut off and used as cut flowers for decoration and making floral displays either alone or with other flowers.
What do you do with lilies in the winter?
Overwintering lilies in cool climates starts with digging the bulbs from the soil. Wait until the foliage has died back but remove them from the ground before any danger of frost occurs. Carefully lift the bulbs and divide them if necessary. Rinse the soil from the bulbs and check them for mold or damage.
Do lilies regrow after cutting?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for lilies. Once a stem has finished blooming, that’s it. Cutting off the spent flowers isn’t going to make way for any new buds. … If you’re growing lilies, you probably want to keep the foliage around through the summer so the plants will come back the following spring.
Can I plant a potted calla lily outside?
Calla lilies are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. … When planted in water, the rhizomes can remain outdoors as long as the water doesn’t freeze at the planting depth. You can also transplant your callas into pots and grow them as houseplants.
Are garden lilies perennials?
Lilies are an easy to grow summer flowering plant with large, showy, and often fragrant flowers, which make a fantastic statement in the border. Lilies are perennial and will return each year in suitable growing conditions. … Lilies are grown for their showy flowers many of which are scented, and often strongly scented.
How do you make lilies last longer?
Fill your vase â…” full with room temperature water and add the flower food. Keep the vase topped up with water daily. Change the water and re-trim the stems every few days to maximise vase life.
What month do you plant lily bulbs?
Planting: Lily bulbs can be planted in fall or early spring. If planting in the fall it is important to do so at least four weeks prior to your last frost date in order that they can put down strong roots before the ground freezes. Plant in early spring when the ground is workable but not muddy.
Is it too late to plant lily bulbs?
Lilies (true lilies such as Asiatics etc.) can be planted just about anytime the ground can be worked. If planted too late in the season they probably will not bloom the first year but will most likely send up foliage at least.
What is the best fertilizer for lilies?
As a rule of thumb, a 10-20-20 mix of slow-release fertilizer is best to keep your lilies in peak condition. For large plants with lots of blooms a second application just before flowering is fine.
Do lilies reseed themselves?
New plants rise from seeds the following spring if conditions are right, but plants may have to grow for two or three years before bulbs form and become large enough to support blooms. Species lilies multiply by seed annually but some hybrid lilies set seed only occasionally.
Should you mulch lilies?
Plant lilies as soon as you get them, either in the fall or the spring. … Spread an organic mulch around lilies to help keep the soil moist and cool; use compost, well-rotted manure, or a longer-lasting mulch, such as bark mulch, wood chips or cocoa shells.
Do lilies spread?
When cared for and left to themselves, lilies will quickly spread out and can fill a garden bed over the period of a few seasons. When a gardener intervenes to propagate them, the process is accelerated and new plants can be strategically and deliberately placed. Early fall is a good time to propagate lilies.
What happens if you plant bulbs too late?
If you miss planting your bulbs at the optimal time, don’t wait for spring or next fall. Bulbs aren’t like seeds. They won’t survive out of the ground indefinitely. Even if you find an unplanted sack of tulips or daffodils in January or February, plant them and take your chances.
What happens if you plant bulbs too early?
Planting bulbs too early can leave them susceptible to rot. If you put them in the ground in late August or early September, they might even be tricked into thinking its spring, and try to bloom! If you plant too early, they won’t bloom when they’re supposed to.
Will lilies bloom in the first year?
Newly planted bulbs sometimes don’t bloom at all the first growing season but will do just fine starting in year two. Older lilies might not perform on schedule either. In time, lilies just run out of steam and stop producing flowers. This is especially true if too many bulbs are crowded together underground.