Lilies: The Joys of the Summer Garden
Whether you’re new to gardening or a gardening pro, you’ll want to consider adding lilies to your summer garden. Lilies, also known by the botanical name Lilium, come in a variety of flower colours, sizes and bloom times. These classic sun perennials are known for their big, showy, often fragrant flowers and low maintenance. Lily flowers are also favorites for bridal bouquets, centerpieces and cut-flower arrangements.
Lilies are grown from bulbs that can be planted in the spring or fall. They tolerate a variety of soils, as long as it is well-drained, and they are sun lovers, doing best in areas that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. They are perennials, coming back year after year—and most varieties naturalise well, multiplying year after year.
Top Reasons to Grow Lilies in Your Garden
Easy, easy, easy. Lily care is simple. Lilies are some of the easiest sun perennials to grow, as long as they have good drainage and lots of sun.
Showy, summer colour. Lily flowers are large, with some growing up to 8 inches across, so they’re sure to get noticed in the summer garden. The come in a wide range of colours, including white, orange, pink, yellow, red and more.
Outstanding cut flower. The lily flower is treasured for wedding bouquets, centerpieces and cut-flower arrangements. One lily flower is enough for an arrangement.
Incredible fragrance. Their outstanding fragrance that floats on the summer breeze. As cut flowers, they can perfume a room.
Versatility. Lilies come in many colours and sizes, so they’re easy to fit into garden settings and even containers.
Bloom time. When do lilies bloom? This depends on the variety of lily you are growing. With a little planning, you can plant different varieties and have up to 8 weeks of summertime blooms.
When to Plant Lilies
Use the table below to identify the best time of year to plant lily bulbs in your climate.
Preparation
Lily plants are best grown in full sun or part shade. Choose a location that will receive at least 3 hours of full sun each day. Protection from strong afternoon sun is preferable. If afternoon sun is unavoidable, take extra care with watering to prevent the soil drying out, which can cause wilting.
Lily plants need a well drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Prepare soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it and adding aged animal manure or compost. Keep the area free of weeds until planting.
Lily plants can be grown in containers. If possible choose a variety that’s recommended for container growing. Use a good quality potting mix and make sure your container is large enough for mature plants; a minimum of 20 litres is recommended for lilies. During the growing season, keep in mind that container grown plants may need additional fertiliser to encourage healthy growth.
How to Plant Lily Bulbs
Lily bulbs are fresh (not dormant) and need to be kept moist until they are planted. Plant bulbs as soon as possible after purchasing them. Plant lily bulbs directly into the garden or container in clusters so the stems can support each other as they grow.
- Plant individual bulbs 20-40cm apart (7-10cm apart in containers) and 10-15cm deep with the roots at the bottom.
- Cover with soil and water in well.
- Keep soil moist but not wet until shoots emerge.
How to Grow Lilies
Lily plants may need watering during the growing season. Water when the soil is dry about 5cm below the surface (test this by scratching away a little soil with your finger). Water deeply in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid watering the leaves of plants to avoid fungal diseases.
To help keep moisture in the soil and keep the lily's roots cool, apply a thick layer of organic mulch such as lucerne or pea straw before summer.
When plants begin to form buds, apply a balanced liquid or slow release fertiliser at the recommended rate to prevent the lower leaves from turning yellow.
Lilies should be ready to harvest in approximately 70-120 days.
