There are hundreds of lilies worldwide, with flower colors that span the rainbow. Along with a few other native flowers that are also called “lilies,” 22 species of lilies are native to North America. These native lily flowers offer beauty, resiliency, and minimal care. Read on to meet some native favorites for your landscape.
Lilies are some of the most popular flowers that homeowners love to add to their gardens. With their unique trumpet-like shape and stunning colors, it’s easy to see why. Unfortunately, not every planting zone can support growing true lilies. The good news is that there are several lookalike plants that make excellent lily substitutes.
In this article, we’ll explore 8 beautiful plants that can pass as lilies in your garden. Read on to learn more about these lily lookalikes!
1. Daylilies
Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are a classic perennial that resembles lilies. They produce an abundance of blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red and pink. The flowers have the same trumpet shape as many lilies. Daylilies thrive in zones 3-9 and are low maintenance. They emerge in spring and flower through summer For nonstop color, choose early, mid and late season bloomers. Plant in full sun or partial shade Dividing the clumps every few years keeps daylilies blooming strong.
2. Peruvian Lily
Also called alstroemeria, Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria spp.) looks very much like Asiatic and Oriental lilies. Its blossoms come in many colors like white, pink, red, orange, purple and yellow. Peruvian lily is available as cut flowers but also grows wonderfully in zones 7-10. Plant in well-draining soil in full sun to partial shade. It blooms spring through fall. Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
3. Gladiolus
The eye-catching spikes of gladiolus bear flowers that resemble lilies. Gladiolus come in every shade imaginable, with ruffled, rounded petals. They thrive in zones 7-10 as summer bulbs. Plant the corms in spring once the soil warms up. Set them 6 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart in full sun. Stake the 2 to 5 foot stems once they emerge. Dig up the corms in fall and store them over winter in a cool, dry spot.
4. Lily-Flowered Tulips
Certain tulips have flowers that look just like lilies, with their bowl-shaped, recurved petals. Lily-flowered tulip varieties include ‘Ballade’, ‘White Triumphator’ and ‘West Point’. The color range includes white, pink, red, burgundy, peach and bi-colors. Plant the bulbs in fall in zones 3-8. Place them 4-6 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Remove spent blooms but leave the foliage until it dies back naturally.
5. Crocosmia
Also called montbretia, crocosmia (Crocosmia spp.) produces arching spikes covered with funnel-shaped blossoms resembling lilies. Flower colors include orange, red, yellow and bi-colors. Crocosmia thrives in zones 6-9 planted in full sun to partial shade. It blooms summer into fall and makes a great cut flower. Plant the corms 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart in spring once the soil warms up.
6. Rain Lily
A member of the amaryllis family, rain lily (Zephyranthes spp.) flowers look nearly identical to lilies. These dainty, lily-like blooms appear on slender stalks, often just after a good rain shower. Colors range from white and pink to yellow and peach. Rain lilies thrive in zones 7-10, blooming in summer into fall. Plant the small bulbs 2-3 inches deep and 4 inches apart in a sunny spot.
7. Dog’s Tooth Violet
Despite its name, dog’s tooth violet (Erythronium spp.) resembles a lily more than a violet. The flowers feature recurved petals in shades of pink, white, yellow and bi-colors rising above mottled foliage. Dog tooth violet grows well in zones 3-9, blooming in spring before the leaves fully emerge. Plant the small bulbs 3 inches deep and 4 inches apart in partial to full shade.
8. Calla Lily
Calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.) is often mistaken as a true lily. Its large, funnel-shaped blooms and spear-like foliage resemble arum lilies. Calla lilies come in white, pink, yellow, purple and bi-colors. They thrive as perennials in zones 8-10 but can be grown as annuals in cooler areas. Plant the rhizomes in spring with the tops just above soil level. Give calla lilies partial shade to full sun and consistent moisture.
With so many beautiful plants that resemble lilies, you can still achieve the look you love even if true lilies don’t grow well in your zone. Mix and match these lily lookalikes to create stunning garden displays. Let their elegant flowers and rich colors shine in borders, beds, containers and cut flower arrangements.
Where can I find seeds and plants?
Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette. ) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.
Our list of native nurseries makes finding one a breeze
Weve included 100+ online resources to help
Every state has a native plant society; find yours
Local Facebook groups are a great plant source
Native Lilies for the Eastern Seaboard
Wood lilies have petals that are red to orange, and the inside of the flower has dark purple spots. They are stunning up close—like miniature modernist paintings. These are the only native lilies with flowers that point up (the others’ flowers hang down. ) Wood Lily’s native range is large: from the Mid-Atlantic to the Midwest.
Wood Lily grows to be 1 to 3 feet tall and has a wide range of moisture needs (from wet to dry). It does best in well-drained areas and can handle drought once it is established. Pair with Butterfly Weed, Blazing Star, and asters.
You have to have this flower once you’ve seen it. Turk’s Cap puts out a chandelier of orange lily flowers, each appearing hand-painted with tiny spots. You can’t walk by without taking a picture.
Turks Cap Lily grows 4-10 feet (making it the tallest of North American lilies. ) But WOW—if you have the space—plant some immediately. Native from New Hampshire down to Florida, and west to Arkansas.
Trout Lilies have beautiful tiny flowers in the early spring, surrounded by intricately dappled green leaves. (The name ‘trout’ comes from this speckling. ).
Trout Lilies are some of the earliest plants to flower in the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. They also appear like magic: putting out leaves, blooming, and then disappearing—all within a month. But don’t worry: they’ll be back again next spring to perform the trick again. (Plants that appear/disappear in the spring are called ephemerals. ) Trout Lilies will easily spread when in moist, rich soil.
It doesn’t look like much, but a Canada Lily plant can have up to 20 FLOWERS! These are beautiful plants that grow to be 2 to 4 feet tall.
Canada Lilies are native to a lot of different parts of North America, from the Northeast to the Midwest. However, they are hard to find in nurseries. So if you do find some—scoop them up and find a spot in your garden.
Now let’s go to the western part of North America and meet some lilies that live in the Northwest and California.
All About Lilies // Different Lily Types for Your Flower Garden
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