Yellow lilies with red spots provide a visually striking contrast that can make them the star of any flower garden. Their vibrant colors immediately draw the eye, brightening up planting beds, borders, and containers
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular yellow lily varieties that feature red spotting. We’ll look at their growth habits, ideal conditions, and tips for successfully growing these beauties at home.
An Overview of Yellow Lilies with Red Spots
Lilies come in a diverse range of colors, from whites to pinks to deep oranges. Yet yellow remains one of the most popular options. Within the yellow lily category, many cultivars also feature heavy red spotting on their petals and along their throats.
This spotting appears as tiny flecks, larger dots, streaks, or prominent brush marks Sometimes only the interior of the flower shows this coloration In other cases, red comes through equally on both the inside and outside of petals.
Most spotted yellow lilies fall into the Asiatic or Oriental classes. They are hardy, vigorous growers that aren’t difficult for either beginner or seasoned gardeners to cultivate. Some of the most well-known examples include:
- Lilium ‘Cocotte’ – A dwarf Asiatic with flat, pineapple yellow blooms and cherry red margins
- Lilium ‘Brushstroke’ – An Asiatic with greenish blooms and bold burgundy streaks
- Lilium ‘Missouri’ – An Oriental with bright yellow recurved petals and heavy red spotting
- Lilium ‘Montreux’ – An Oriental hybrid with dark red speckles on golden blooms
Below we’ll look at some of these stunning options in greater detail.
Popular Spotted Yellow Lily Varieties
Lilium ‘Cocotte’
This dwarf Asiatic lily grows just 2 to 3 feet tall. Its flowers are a solid pineapple yellow with cherry red anthers and petal margins. Blooms are abundant, pollen free, and work beautifully in floral arrangements.
‘Cocotte’ thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Give it lots of space to allow for good airflow. Foliage has a rounded habit and combines nicely with red and purple companions. Try pairing with bee balm or ornamental grasses.
Lilium ‘Brushstroke’
Buttery primrose petals have bold magenta streaks and splotches on this mid-sized Asiatic lily. Mature plants reach 3 to 4 feet tall and produce upright, unscented blooms. Centers are a deep orange-red color that contrasts nicely with the softer yellow background.
This variety prefers organically rich soil and does best in full sun. Give it winter mulch in cold climates. ‘Brushstroke’ combines beautifully with red or white perennials like coral bells, Shasta daisies, and sedums.
Lilium ‘Missouri’
A fragrant Oriental lily that grows 3 to 5 feet tall, ‘Missouri’ features recurved petals in a vibrant golden yellow. Petal interiors and throats are heavily spotted with large ruby red brushmarks. Blooms are large and nodding.
This variety needs excellent drainage and full sun for optimal growth. It tends to bloom mid to late season. Plant it along borders or walkways where its spicy scent can be appreciated. ‘Missouri’ looks stunning alongside Asiatic and Oriental lily companions.
Lilium ‘Montreux’
Deep red spotting overlays a bright golden orange color on this Oriental hybrid lily. Blooms are bowl-shaped, lightly scented, and reach up to 5 inches across. Sturdy plants grow 4 to 6 feet tall.
Give ‘Montreux’ rich soil, full sunlight, and reliable moisture. Mulch heavily in winter. Its dark speckles provide dramatic contrast against the glowing orange-gold background. Underplant with blue perennials like Russian sage.
Growing Tips for Yellow Lilies with Red Spots
Most spotted yellow lily varieties are not difficult to grow. Here are some top tips for success:
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Sun and drainage – Give them full sun to partial shade and soil that drains readily. Wet feet will cause bulbs to rot. Adding organic material like compost improves drainage.
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Space – Allow ample room between plants, at least 2 to 3 feet in all directions. Good airflow discourages foliar diseases.
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Fertilizer – Use a balanced fertilizer when growth begins in spring. Discontinue feeding after flower buds form to prevent leggy stems.
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Support – Stake taller varieties if needed to prevent storm damage. Tie stems loosely to allow some movement.
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Winter care – After the first hard frost, cut stems to 3 inches above soil level. Mulch heavily with a 4-6 inch layer. Renew mulch in spring after new growth starts.
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Pests – Watch for aphids, thrips and lily beetles. Remove by hand immediately and use insecticidal soap only if infestations persist. Slugs and snails can also be problematic.
Companion Planting for Yellow Lilies with Red Spots
Due to their bicolor nature, spotted yellow lilies pair beautifully with both warm and cool-toned blooms. Here are some top companion ideas:
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Orange lilies – Combine with other vibrant orange, yellow, or red lily varieties for maximum impact.
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Purple coneflower – The pink and purple blooms of Echinacea provide perfect contrast.
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Bee balm – Red Monarda blooms complement yellow lilies nicely.
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Coral bells – Heuchera’s red and chartreuse leaves accent the lilies’ colors.
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Russian sage – Soft blue flowers and foliage offset the bold yellow and red.
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Sedum – ‘Autumn Joy’ and other stonecrops complement in both form and hue.
How to Use Yellow Lilies with Red Spots in the Landscape
Picture these stunning lilies combined in perennial beds, borders, containers or cutting gardens. Here are some tips:
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Place them near walkways or porches where their colors and fragrance can be enjoyed up close.
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Use them as thriller plants in large patio containers mixed with cool blue and purple companions.
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Underplant them with low growers like candytuft, dwarf zinnias, or creeping phlox.
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Plant in groups of 3, 5, or 7 for maximum visual impact. Odd numbers work best.
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Site them towards the rear or center of beds so their height doesn’t obscure other plants.
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Mix early, mid, and late blooming varieties to extend color from early summer into fall.
10 More Stunning Yellow and Red Lily Varieties
If you love the bold contrast of red-spotted yellow lilies, consider also trying these eye-catching varieties:
- Lilium ‘Citronella’ – Golden blooms with rust spots
- Lilium ‘Conca d’Or’ – Yellow with red brushmarks
- Lilium ‘Gold Eagle’ – Sunny yellow with deep red throats
- Lilium ‘Goldsmith’ – Buttery blooms with subtle red highlights
- Lilium ‘King Pete’ – Soft yellow with tangerine splotches
- Lilium ‘Landini’ – Yellow recurved petals heavily spotted red
- Lilium ‘Pollyanna’ – Canary blooms with tangerine streaks
- Lilium ‘Royal Sunset’ – Yellow heavily speckled on ruffled petals
- Lilium ‘Skywatcher’ – Pure yellow with bold magenta spotting
- Lilium ‘Yelloween’ – Bright golden blooms with dark red speckles
The stunning contrast of yellow lilies with red spotting makes them a jewel in any summer garden. Their vibrant hues draw the eye while their elegant forms lend height and drama. With excellent drainage and plenty of sunlight, these hardy bulbs are sure to thrive and multiply readily. Show them off in beds, borders or containers for vivid color that lasts from midsummer into fall.
Erythronium americanum (Yellow Trout Lily)
Plant Info| Also known as: | Yellow Adders-tongue, Dogtooth Violet |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Erythronium |
| Family: | Liliaceae (Lily) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; moist rich woods, thickets, along streams |
| Bloom season: | April – May |
| Plant height: | 4 to 8 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |
Pick an for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
A stiff, naked stalk 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm) long with a single flower that nods. Flowers have 6 tepals that are lance-shaped and elliptical, with 3 petals and 3 similar sepals. The tepals are ¾ to 1 1/3 inches (20 to 33 mm) long, yellow on the outside and sometimes purple, and have reddish dots in the throat. There are 6 long stamens in the center, usually with deep rusty red tips (anthers), or sometimes yellow. Flowers open in the morning, the tepals flaring out and back, and close up at night.
Leaves are all basal, flowering plants with a pair of leaves and non-flowering plants with one. The leaves are lance-shaped, elliptical, oval, or egg-shaped, 3 to 9 inches (23 cm) long, and 1 to 2 inches wide. They don’t have any teeth or hair, and they taper at both ends. The leaves grow on a thin stalk that comes from an underground bulb; most bulbs don’t produce flowers. Color is waxy blue-green irregularly mottled with purplish brown, the mottling typically fading with age.
The fruit is a capsule that looks like an oval or upside-down egg and has a round end. When it’s fully grown, it’s about ½ inch (12 to 15 mm) long and is usually held upright. Stolons, which are horizontal stems, are how plants that don’t flower reproduce. They are buried just below the ground and form a new bulb at the end, from which a new shoot grows the next year.
Leaves are very similar to Minnesotas other two Trout Lilies (E. albidum and E. Some of these pictures were taken at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Minneapolis, where leaves with light green spots and flowers with yellow anthers were on display. It is unknown where these plants came from. The yellow Trout Lily, like the other species, grows best in dense forests and flood plains. Its leaves appear in early April and are gone by June, and it can form large colonies. There are 2 recognized subspecies in North America: subsp. Harperi only grows in a few southeastern states and has a small point at the end of each capsule. americanum has the round capsule described here. It can be found from the easternmost counties of Minnesota in the east to northern Alabama in the south.
Let’s diagnose the disease on this plant! | Crinum Lilly
FAQ
What is a yellow flower with red spots called?
Are yellow spider lilies poisonous?
How do you take care of red lilies?
What is the name of the yellow lily?
Are lilies yellow?
While yellow is not the most prevalent lily color, most species in the Lilium genus produce at least a few cultivars that flower in shades of lemon, cream, mustard, or canary yellow. Their blooms range in size from 3 to 10 inches, and plant heights typically average between 2 and 4 feet. Most are hardy from zone 3 to 9.
Which lilies produce red orange flowers?
Michigan lily produces red-orange flowers on soft green stalks, with finely arranged spirals of long leaves and parallel veins during summer. 47. Pardalinum/ Leopard Lily ‘Leopard lily’ is popular for its half yellow, half orange petals with leopard-skin like patterns on petals, hence the name.
What does a yellow lily look like?
The yellow buds open in orange-red flowers, which have wide shiny petals that curl up at the ends. The center is bright orange with beautiful undersides, tinged in the shades of dark red. 13. Grand Cru This stunning lily has yellow flowers, with dark anthers and red markings in the middle of the petals.
What color are lilies?
The flowers are bi-colored, featuring bright yellow petals and maroon red (burgundy) centers around the petal bases. This Asiatic hybrid lily is hardy and can be grown in a variety of climates. It is generally suitable for growing in containers or flowerbeds.
What are the best yellow lilies?
Yellow lilies bring a bright, sunny vibe to your garden, flowerbed, or home. Unfortunately, there aren’t quite as many yellow options as you will find with other lily colors, but there are still several to choose from. Here are five of our favorites. Some of them might become your favorites, too. 1. Citronella Lily (Lilium ‘Citronella’)
What lilies have pink flowers?
This lily is the result of the fusion between oriental hybrid and trumpet lily. Its flowers are pale pink that deepens to apricot towards the center, with yellow edges. The dark green foliage creates a beautiful contrast to these eye-catching flowers. 83. Kaveri It is a cross between Oriental and Asiatic lilies.