Many people love lilies for their beautiful colors. Even better, there are many types of lilies that come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. The Royal Horticultural Society has divided them into nine different groups.
The 115 recognized species of lily in the botanical genus Lilium are put into these groups based on how they are alike in ways like flower shape, growth habits, parentage, and so on. Other beautiful plants that can be added to your garden are hybrids, which are made by crossing different species.
As a master gardener, I’ll tell you about the 18 best types of lilies to grow in this article. I’ll cover what makes them special and why you should consider them for your garden.
Asiatic lilies are a type of flower that brings the beauty of Asia to gardens all over the world. Each bloom is elegant and full of life. These plants are a beautiful example of nature’s beauty because of their bright blue trumpet-shaped flowers.
What makes these plants special is their unique characteristics. The bright orange and white flowers, which are sometimes mixed with other colors, fill the area with a rich scent.
Even the buds hold a potent fragrance, waiting to release a heady scent upon blooming. They are hardy and can grow well in both full sun and partial shade, which makes them a great choice for any garden.
Every gardener should consider adding Asiatic lilies to their summer garden. The strong stalk with shiny leaves will add a touch of green to any yard before the flowers come out in late spring.
In late summer, their strong bulbs push up a lot of new stalks, making sure that elegance is always present. They also make great cut flowers because they have a lot of flowers with pollen in the anthers. They add a touch of freshness and bright colors to indoor bouquets.
The ability of these versatile flowers to thrive in well-drained soil adds to their appeal. Their simple name reminds us that beauty can be found in the most ordinary things, even if they look beautiful and add an exotic touch to any garden.
The Oriental Lily, known for its elegance and fragrance, is a cherished gem of any summer garden. It has trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom late in the season and are usually bright orange or white. They make a beautiful show from late summer to early fall.
What defines the Oriental Lily is the alluring fragrance of its blossoms. These fragrant flowers are loved by both gardeners and flower lovers for their strong scent and great quality as cut flowers.
This lily offers an added layer of visual appeal through its foliage. Strong green stems with dark leaves look beautiful next to the carefully made bouquets, especially when the bright orange or white petals of the flowers are paired with them.
Asian lilies are great for gardeners who want a plant that can do well in both full sun and some shade. If you plant these varieties or cultivars in well-drained soil, they will do well in USDA zones 5 through 9. This is a great chance for most gardeners.
Another way that August can improve your garden is by watching these pretty buds turn into fragrant blooms. This adds to the beauty of the late-summer garden.
Finally, Oriental Lilies are excellent cut flowers, perfect for creating classic and elegant bouquets. No matter how experienced you are with gardening, the Oriental Lily is a must-have for any flower collection because of its stunning beauty, rich scent, and ability to survive in harsh conditions.
Their scientific name is Lilium lancifolium, and their flowers are bright orange and add a splash of color to any summer garden.
What makes the Tiger Lily stand out is its distinctive blossoms. Each flower has bright orange petals with black spots all over them, giving it an air of ancient beauty.
Bigger than three inches across, the flowers smell wonderful and fill the air with their scent. The trumpet-shaped flowers are held high on strong, thick stems, and each stem can have anywhere from 12 to 20 flowers at a time.
Any gardener should consider growing Tiger Lilies not only for their beauty but also for their robust nature. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade and are ideal to be grown in well-drained soil. Because the stems are strong and the flowers last a long time, the flowers are very versatile. They make great cut flowers for bouquets.
Tiger Lilies, despite their name, add a touch of wildness to a garden and are beautiful to look at from late spring to early summer. They are also easy to take care of.
Any gardener would appreciate the elegance and beauty that Trumpet lilies bring to a summer garden. These lilies are known for their big, trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually bright orange or white. This is where their common name comes from.
Importantly, they bloom a lot from late spring to early summer, adding color to the beginning of the warmer months.
The most beautiful flowers in the garden are the trumpet lilies, which bloom from late spring to early August and do best in full sun and well-drained soil. What makes these trumpet lilies unique is the wonderful scent they give off, especially at dusk when they fill the air with a divine scent.
These lilies are also great as cut flowers for bouquets or arrangements, and they keep their scent even after being cut. They have stout stalks holding up their blossoms, while their leaves form a lush backdrop.
Their buds slowly unfurl into fragrant blooms displaying a pollen-filled center with anthers. So, trumpet lilies are a unique combination of beauty and smell. Any gardener who wants flowers that are both beautiful and fragrant should think about growing them.
I love being a master gardener and sharing what I know about the beauty and grace of the Lilium longiflorum, which is also known as the Easter Lily.
People love this cultivar because of its famous trumpet-shaped flowers that come out of leafy green stems in late spring and last through late summer, adding beautiful white blooms to the summer garden.
The Easter lily offers large, fragrant flowers that can fill a garden with a rich fragrance. It’s easy to see why these lilies make great cut flowers. They look great in bouquets and other arrangements that bring the outdoors inside. Each stem has several buds that open into big white petals. The lily’s bright orange anthers, which are full of pollen, look great on these petals.
When it comes to looks, the Easter lily’s bright white flowers look great against the green leaves below, making any garden look more beautiful.
The added benefit is their flexible growth preferences. If these bulbs are in well-drained soil that gets full sun to partial shade, they will grow into beautiful white flowers.
Overall, adding Easter Lilies to your garden will give it a touch of classic elegance. Plus, their scent will keep it smelling lovely all through August.
The Madonna Lily is an ancient flower with a fragrance that evokes elegance and refinement. Its botanical name, Lilium candidum, is derived from its stunning white blooms that boast an exceptional purity.
What makes the Madonna Lily special is its unsurpassed beauty and long history of cultivation. It blossoms in late spring, displaying a profusion of trumpet-shaped flowers with a pleasing fragrance. Bees that collect pollen are drawn to the flower’s bright orange anthers, which stand out against the white petals.
This type of lily is perfect for gardeners who like elegant flowers that smell good. It is an excellent cut flower, perfect for sophisticated bouquets because of its notable stalk and foliage.
It thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers a well-drained soil. Because it is hardy, it blooms every year from late spring to early summer, turning your summer garden into a fragrant haven. It’s a symbol of elegance and a testament to the magic that a single stem can bring.
Interestingly, despite the native areas like Asia and Europe, this species can brighten late summer in your garden. Make sure to give it the attention it needs among the bright August colors, and know that the Madonna Lily will always impress.
Its beauty and hardiness make it a favorite amongst bulb growing enthusiasts. Invest time in nurturing the buds and watch the garden bloom with their charm.
The Lilium pardalinum plant, which is also called the Leopard Lily, blooms from late spring to early summer and gives any garden a touch of wild elegance.
The bright orange trumpet-shaped flowers of these lilies are speckled with dark spots, just like the big cat they are named after. They can grow in a lot of different hardiness zones. Leopard Lily bulbs do best in some shade and some full sun. The soil needs to be well-drained.
What makes Leopard Lilies special is their versatility and adaptability. They can grow well in a wide range of climates in North America, parts of Asia, and Europe. Their showy blooms make them great for cutting and are often the focal point of bouquets.
A lot of gardeners like them because their long, strong stalks hold clusters of fragrant flowers that give off a nice scent.
Their flower is not only beautiful to look at, but it also makes a lot of pollen, which attracts and feeds many beneficial insects. As summer ends, the flowers fade and are replaced by bright green leaves that serve as a background for the next group of plants in your garden.
Every gardener should grow this lovely perennial because it is hardy, looks great, and can add a touch of wild charm to your space.
Lilies are popular garden plants that come in a wide variety of sizes colors, and leaf shapes. Some lily varieties are prized for their unusually long leaves that add drama and interest to flower beds and containers. Let’s take an in-depth look at these elegant lily plants with long leaves.
Overview of Lily Plants With Long Leaves
Several lily species and hybrids are known for their elongated, strap-like foliage that can grow up to 12 inches long. Some examples include
- Asiatic hybrids like ‘Black Beauty’
- Oriental hybrids such as ‘Star Gazer’
- Longiflorum hybrids like ‘White Heaven’
- Certain martagon hybrids
These lilies exhibit leaves that are slender, sword-shaped, and heavily veined. They emerge from the bulbs in a bright green color and provide excellent vertical interest before and after blooming.
The lengthy narrow foliage contrasts beautifully with the large, showy flower blooms. It adds texture and architectural elegance to garden beds, borders, and containers.
Growing Conditions
Lily plants with long leaves thrive in the following conditions:
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Sun: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is ideal.
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Soil: Moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A soil pH between 6.0-7.0 is best.
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Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated. Established plants are drought tolerant.
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Temperature: Prefer cool to mild summers around 70-80°F.
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Hardiness Zones: Typically hardy in zones 4-9 depending on the variety.
When provided with proper growing conditions, these lilies can live for many years and reach up to 4-6 feet in height.
Popular Varieties
Here are some top picks of lily plants with long, strappy leaves:
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‘Black Beauty’ – This oriental hybrid has dark purple foliage and flowers. The slender leaves can reach 8-12 inches long.
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‘Star Gazer’ – One of the most popular oriental lilies with deep pink blooms and olive-green leaves up to 10 inches.
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‘White Heaven’ – A fragrant longiflorum hybrid with pure white trumpets and 9 inch dark green leaves.
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Lilium martagon – The martagon lily has dainty pink-purple blooms and whorled green leaves around 6 inches long.
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Lilium henryi – Henry’s lily has slightly shorter 4 inch leaves but the foliage is reliably disease-free.
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Lilium speciosum – The Japanese lily flaunts white flowers and olive-green leaves that can reach 10 inches.
How to Plant Lily Bulbs
Lilies grow from bulbs that should be planted in the fall. Follow these tips for planting lily bulbs with long leaves:
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Select a site with full sun to partial shade and fertile, moist soil. Improve drainage if needed.
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Plant the bulbs 4-6 inches deep and 12 inches apart in autumn before the first frost.
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Set the bulbs upright with the pointy ends facing up. The roots will grow from the bottom (flat end).
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Cover with soil and mulch. Keep moist until sprouts emerge in spring.
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Tall varieties may need staking as they grow to prevent toppling from wind and rain.
Caring for Lily Plants
To keep your long-leaved lilies looking their best, provide proper care:
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Water 1-2 inches per week. Never let the soil dry out completely.
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Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. Avoid high nitrogen blends.
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Remove faded flower blooms but leave the stems, stalks, and foliage intact.
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Stake taller varieties and pinch back or support heavy blooms.
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Divide congested clumps every 2-3 years after blooming subsides. Replant the bulblets.
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Watch for aphids, thrips and other common pests. Treat promptly to avoid damage.
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Cut back the leaves and stems after they brown in late fall.
Enjoying Lilies with Long Leaves
With their elegant structure and vibrant blooms, these lilies make stunning additions to gardens and cut flower arrangements. Their narrow foliage sways gracefully in the breeze and adds lovely vertical lines to garden beds and borders. Play up the interesting leaves by pairing these lilies with plants like hostas, ferns, ornamental grasses or smaller perennials and annuals. Any gardener looking for drama, texture and sophistication will appreciate these beauties!
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Martagon lilies (Turk’s Cap Lilies)
Botanical Name: Lilium martagon
Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9 (USDA)
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Flower Colors: Bright orange and white petals, but cultivars may have other shades as well.
Native Area: Asia and Europe.
The Martagon lily, which is also called the “Turk’s cap lily,” adds a special touch of beauty to any summer garden. Its characteristic feature is the array of fragrant blooms it produces which are often trumpet-shaped flowers.
Their flowers open into a star-shaped ring of bright orange or white petals that wrap around the stem. They bloom from late spring to early summer.
What makes these flowers stand out are their hardiness and adaptability. They can thrive in full sun or partial shade, and are quite resilient compared to other lily types. These plants are also very hardy, and their bulbs can survive cold winters just fine as long as they’re planted in well-drained soil.
The allure of Martagon lilies extends beyond their vibrant blooms. Their fragrant flowers give off a pleasant smell that can fill an entire garden. The pollen-filled anthers of their flowers attract pollinators. As a bonus, these fragrant blossoms make excellent cut flowers, adding elegance to any bouquet.
Anyone who wants to add something reliable and beautiful to their garden should definitely think about the Martagon lily. It’s not only beautiful, but it’s also hardy and flexible.
Botanical Name: Lilium michiganense
Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9 (USDA)
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Flower Colors: Orange with White Petals
Native Area: North America, Asia, Europe
There is an elegance that Michigan Lilies bring to any summer garden. It’s easy and fun to grow these lilies, and people love their bright orange trumpet-shaped flowers that often have white petals to make them stand out.
The big, fragrant flowers of Michigan Lilies are what make them stand out. They not only make your garden look better, but they also smell great. Each stalk boasts several buds that unfurl to present a bouquet-like display. These beautiful plants bloom in late spring to early summer, giving you a splash of color just when you need it.
Michigan Lilies are hardy in most USDA zones, make great cut flowers, and can grow in full sun or partial shade, so every gardener should think about growing them.
When grown in well-drained soil, their foliage stays robust throughout the growing season. Their captivating appearance also works well in various shades of garden themes. Not to mention, these flowers are a charming addition to bouquets and arrangements.
For seasoned professionals or gardening beginners, the Michigan Lily is an asset to any green space.
Botanical Name: Lilium philadelphicum
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8 (USDA)
Bloom Time: Late Spring to early Summer
Flower Colors: Bright Orange with white petals
Native Area: North America, from the east regions of Asia to Europe
Wood Lilies, also known by their botanical name Lilium philadelphicum, are a splendor expression of Nature’s elegance.
From late spring to early summer, these lilies bloom with clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers that light up any garden with their bright orange colors and delicate white petals. They come from a large part of North America that goes from the eastern parts of Asia to Europe.
What makes Wood Lilies special is their rich coterie of fragrant blooms under full sun to partial shade. Their fragrance adds a heavenly touch to the summer garden, echoing their hardiness from Zone 4 to 8. Nature made the flowers to be great for cutting, so you can bring their scent and beauty inside to make any room feel better. These flowers are a fantastic addition to your late summer bouquets.
Any gardener should consider growing these lilies due to their low-maintenance needs. They thrive in well-drained soil and their foliage leaves are a spectacular sight. The elegant beauty of Wood Lilies, along with their fragrant blooms, can lift any gardener’s mood and make their summer garden look better.
Botanical Name: Lilium canadense
Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9 (USDA)
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Flower Colors: Bright orange to yellow
Native Area: North America
The Canada Lily, also called the Wild Yellow Lily, is a beautiful and hardy perennial plant that grows in North America. It blooms bright orange to yellow flowers from late spring to early summer. They add a splash of color and style to any summer garden.
The Canada Lily is unique because it has a tall, strong stalk and its bright orange flowers stand out against its dark green leaves.
This lily variety produces fragrant flowers that are often teeming with pollen and have a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. The trumpet-shaped flowers have thin white petals with bright orange spots that give the plant an ethereal beauty.
Anyone who gardens should think about adding this beauty, not only because it looks nice but also because it can be used in many ways. If you plant the Canada Lily in well-drained soil, it will do well in both full sun and partial shade because it is one of the hardier cultivars. Besides, they make excellent cut flowers, perfect for fresh bouquets.
From late spring to late summer, these pretty lilies will make your garden a sight to see, and their sweet-smelling blooms will fill your summer evenings with a delightful scent.
Botanical Name: Lilium Hybrids
Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9 (USDA)
Bloom Time: Late Summer to Early August
Flower Colors: White, Orange
Native Area: Hybrid, Cultivated in Asia and Europe
The Orienpet Lily, a captivating cultivar, hails from selective hybridization processes in both Asia and Europe. They are a cross between Oriental hybrids and trumpet lilies. This plant is renowned for its striking trumpet-shaped flowers, which fill any summer garden with an intoxicating fragrance.
Each stem thunders to life with bright orange, white petals or shades in between. Your garden will radiate elegance when these lilies are in full bloom during the late summer months.
What makes Orienpet Lilies unique are their large, hardy flowers that smell great. Depending on the cultivar, they come in passionate red, white, or orange blooms. This cultivar is known for its unique blend of Oriental and Trumpet lilies, hence the common name, Orienpet.
They are hardy enough to do well in both full sun and partial shade, but they do best in well-drained soil so their roots don’t get too wet. The late spring and early summer garden will be a riot of color with these beautiful cut flowers. The cut flowers are also great for making bouquets.
Because of this, growing Orienpet Lilies is a rewarding experience for any gardener because of their beautiful flowers, rich scent, and hardiness.
1 Golden Rayed Lilies
Botanical Name: Lilium auratum
Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8 (USDA)
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Flower Colors: Bright orange and white
Native Area: Asia
The bright orange and white flowers of Golden Rayed Lilies really live up to their botanical name, Lilium auratum, which means “golden flower.” These lilies are from Asia, but people in their home country and in gardens across Europe and America have admired how beautiful and bright they are.
It’s the trumpet-shaped flowers with white petals that often have bright orange spots that make Golden Rayed Lilies stand out. The large white flowers generate a delightful fragrance, transforming your summer garden into a sensory delight.
Any gardener should consider incorporating Golden Rayed Lilies into their setup. They make great cut flowers for bouquets, and because they are hardy, they can do well in a variety of conditions. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Their fragrant blooms appear in late spring to early summer, offering elegant blossoms for your garden. Plus, their bright color makes them stand out in any bouquet because it contrasts so well with other flowers and leaves.
Calla Lily Care Guide – Picking, Placing, and Parenting Your Plant
FAQ
Is a calla lily an indoor or outdoor plant?
How long do potted calla lilies last?
Is the peace lily an indoor plant?
How can I tell what type of lily I have?
Which lilies have the longest summer blooms?
This article is about various lily types including garden lilies with the longest summer blooms e.g. Asiatic lilies and beautiful indoor lilies like the peace lily. Also, the article contains information on the most fragrant lilies for example the oriental types and those that are not scented like the Asiatic lilies.
Are all lilies a lily?
Not all plants that carry the name “lily” are botanically types of lilies. True lilies are perennial plants growing from bulbs with a characteristic scale structure and notably large flowers, many highly fragrant, blooming in spring or summer.
Are lilies a good flower?
Lilies have been a favorite flower of many gardeners for centuries. There are few flowers as popular as the lily, which is supported by their beautiful colors, and ease of care. There are over 2,000 varieties of lilies to choose from, and that’s not even including hybrids.
Are lilies perennials?
Grown from bulbs, lilies are perennials that require minimal care if planted correctly. Most lilies do well in containers and look spectacular in a vase. True lilies belong to the genus Lilium and grow from plump, scaly bulbs. Several popular lily species exist, including Orientals, Asiatics, Orienpets, and Species types.
What lilies grow well in summer?
You’ll even learn about seasonal lilies like the Easter Lily and super fragrant ones like Asiatics. These exquisite trumpet-shaped flowers are apricot-orange in color and highly fragrant. This type of lily grows to be between 36″ and 40″ in height. African queen trumpet lilies make an elegant statement in any summer garden.
Which lilies are best for a garden?
The Forever Susan lily is a striking addition to any garden, especially when most consider lilies to only consist of light or pastel colors. Impress new visitors and gardeners with this unique and stunning lily. ‘Friendly’ has one to three orange flowers per stem and will grow wherever you plant it. Scientific name: Lilium ‘Amabile’