Lilies are a popular flower that bloom in late spring through summer, adding beautiful colors and lovely scents to gardens. But how long do these stunning flowers last in the landscape or as cut flowers? Here’s what you need to know about the lifespan of lilies.
In the Garden
When properly planted and cared for, lily bulbs can live for many years in the garden. Most lilies are perennials and their bulbs can survive winter and rebloom annually for decades.
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Asiatic lilies, one of the most common garden lilies can live for 20-30 years or longer if conditions are right. They are cold hardy and often rebloom reliably each summer once established.
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Oriental lilies also have long lifespans of 15-20 years when planted correctly in the right environment. Give them rich, well-drained soil and full to partial sun.
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Tiger lilies are extremely hardy and can thrive for 30 years or more in the garden They spread nicely to form attractive colonies
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Trumpet lilies live around 15-20 years on average and may naturalize well over time
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Native lilies like wood lilies can have very long lifespans of 30+ years when situated in their ideal habitat.
Proper planting depth, sunlight exposure, soil conditions, and overwintering care allow lily bulbs to survive cold winters and rebloom for many seasons. Divide congested clumps every few years to promote vigor. Remove spent flowers but leave foliage intact until it dies down in fall to nourish bulbs. Add mulch in winter in cold climates. With optimal care, most lilies will thrive for at least 15-20 years. Some varieties may live over 30 years in the landscape.
As Cut Flowers
When used as cut flowers, lilies generally last 1-2 weeks in a vase with proper care. Here are some tips to extend the vase life of cut lilies:
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Cut stems on a diagonal to expose more surface area for water intake.
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Remove any leaves that will fall below the water line as they promote bacterial growth.
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Use a clean vase and lukewarm water. Recut stems and replace water every 2-3 days.
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Add commercial flower food or dilute bleach to the water to inhibit bacteria.
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Display lilies out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
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Remove any flowers that wilt to deter rotting.
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Refrigerate lilies overnight before displaying for maximum freshness.
With optimal postharvest care, the cut flowers of Asiatic, Oriental, and other hybrid lilies will generally last between 7-14 days in a vase. Proper hydration is key to longevity.
Potted Easter lilies and other forced bulbs often have shorter vase lives closer to 5-7 days. However, you can still prolong their beauty by following the above care tips.
Overwintering Lily Bulbs
Another consideration is overwintering potted lilies or lily bulbs that are being forced for indoor blooms.
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Easter lilies can be planted outdoors in the garden after blooming finishes indoors. Mulch them heavily over winter and they have a chance of reblooming in subsequent seasons.
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Hardy bulbs like Asiatic lilies can be refrigerated over winter then replanted in spring to force yearly blooms. Discard bulbs after a few seasons as they weaken over time.
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Tender, non-hardy lilies can be discarded after blooming or grown as houseplants and discarded later. Trying to rebloom tender bulbs is often not successful.
With favorable growing conditions, proper care, and overwintering methods, many types of lilies can live and bloom for many years either in the garden or as part of forcing programs. Learn your particular lily’s expected lifespan and care needs for optimal longevity as a garden perennial or cut flower.
Key Tips for Longevity
Here are some key tips to help lilies live as long as possible:
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Plant bulbs at the proper depth and spacing for the variety. Lilies need excellent drainage so choose sites wisely.
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Give lilies full sun to partial shade depending on the type. Morning sun is ideal.
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Fertilize sparingly with balanced fertilizer to avoid buildup in the soil.
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Water lilies during dry spells but avoid soggy soil which can rot bulbs.
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Leave foliage intact until it dies down naturally in autumn after blooms finish.
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Remove spent blooms to deter seed pod formation which takes energy from the plant. However leave stems and leaves.
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In cold climates, mulch lily beds generously over winter to insulate soil and prevent frost heaving.
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Divide congested lily clumps every 3-5 years to rejuvenate the bulbs.
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Watch for pests like beetles and diseases like botrytis; treat promptly.
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Display cut lilies properly and change vase water frequently for longevity as cut flowers.
Following the above care guidelines will help ensure lilies live a long, healthy life in gardens and vases. With optimal conditions, most lilies will thrive for 15-30 years depending on the variety. A few special selections may even surpass 30 years with excellent care. Give lilies what they need and they will continue gracing your garden with gorgeous blooms for decades to come.
How to Care for Lilies
- If it rains less than an inch a week, water the flowers as much as you want while they are growing.
- Keep lilies mulched so that their roots are cool. The mulch should feel moist but not wet. Read more about mulching.
- From planting until 6 weeks after flowering, use a high-potassium liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
- In the spring, put down a thin layer of compost and then a 2-inch layer of mulch.
- Stake tall lilies.
- Lilies only bloom once a season, but you can cut off the old flowers so the plants don’t waste energy making seeds.
- You can also just cut off the stem of the lily after it blooms. But don’t take off the leaves until the fall, when they have died down and turned brown. It’s important to wait to cut back the leaves until the end of their season because they feed the bulb so that it can bloom again next year.
- In late fall or early spring, cut off the dead stalks.
- For the roots to keep growing, add 4 to 6 inches of mulch before winter. This will keep the ground from freezing. Don’t put down mulch until spring, after the last hard frost. See your local frost dates. See your local frost dates. If it doesn’t snow where you live, keep the ground wet during the winter.
- When lily shoots poke through the mulch in the spring, slowly take it away.
- Every three to four years, when new growth starts in the spring, divide the plants. Just lift the plants and divide the clumps. Replant the new bulbs, adding some compost.
There are many types of lilies that bloom at different times. With careful planning, you can enjoy lilies all summer long by planting bulbs from different varieties.
Asiatic lilies are the earliest to bloom and the easiest to grow. With their upward-facing flowers, they bloom early to midsummer. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, Asiatic lilies come in pure white, pink, vivid yellow, orange, and red. The Asiatics’ perfume has been heavily bred out, but flower arrangers still love them even though they don’t smell good.
- “Patricia’s Pride” has white flowers with dark purple spots. It grows to be about 32 inches tall and blooms from early to midsummer.
- Grows 3 to 4 feet tall, has big red flowers (4 to 5 inches across), and is hardy in Zones 3 to 8. It blooms in early to midsummer.
Trumpet lilies bloom mid-summer. Tall with trumpet-shaped flowers, they are hardy in Zones 5 to 9. Trumpet lilies grow many blooms (12 to 15 per stalk!) and have a wonderfully heady, sweet fragrance.
- “Album,” also known as the “regal lily,” has white flowers and grows up to 6 feet tall. It blooms in the middle of summer.
- “Yellow Planet” has extra-large, buttery yellow flowers that grow 4 feet tall and bloom from mid- to late-summer.
Asian hybrids bloom at the end of the season, in mid to late summer, when Asiatic lilies are just starting to fade. Orientals are always a beautiful choice, from the tiny 2-footers to the huge 8-footers. The shorter ones are great for patio beds or container gardens. Oriental lilies have huge white, pink, red, or bicolor blooms that are loved for their intoxicating scent that gets stronger at night. They make wonderful cut flowers that will fill even the largest of rooms with their spicy scents.
- Dark red, 5-inch funnel-shaped flowers grow on the 5- to 6-foot-tall “Black Beauty” plant. It blooms in mid- to late-summer.
- It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and has white flowers. It blooms in the middle to late summer.
- It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and has big, deep pink flowers with white edges. It blooms in the middle to end of summer.
Native lilies provide a range of options; here are a few:
- Turk’s cap lily has densely spotted orange flowers that grow 4 to 7 feet tall and bloom in the middle of summer.
- Canada lily has flowers that are yellow to orange-red and grows to be 3 to 8 feet tall. It blooms from late spring to midsummer.
- The wood lily is the most widespread lily in North America. It grows to be 1 to 3 feet tall and has orange, pink, or red flowers that bloom in July and August.
How to Plant Lilies
- Break up the ground 12 to 15 inches deep.
- Plant lilies that are three times as deep as they are tall. The deep planting makes the new stem send out roots to help support the plant and may get rid of the need for staking. Also, deep planting keeps lily bulbs cool when temperatures soar.
- Set the bulb in the hole pointy side up.
- Put soil in the hole and gently press it down. If you have animals, bury the bulbs in wire cages to keep them from getting eaten.
- Put bulbs three times their diameter apart, which is usually between 8 and 18 inches, but it depends on the type.
- If you have the room, plant lilies in groups of three to five for better looks. Too many plants close together makes it hard for air to flow and can cause gray mold.
- Water thoroughly at the time of planting.
How Long Do Lilies Last With Proper Care
FAQ
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