Asian Lily Lilium – Asiatic hybrids
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lilium asiatica
- Phonetic Spelling
- LIL-ee-um
- Description
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Asiatic lilies in the Liliaceae family are hybrids bred from several other lilies. They are usually the first to bloom, have no scent and have the widest color range of the lilies. The plants grow 2-5 feet tall from scaly bulbs.
The flowers are 4-6 inches across and are pink, orange, yellow, red, cream, white, and lavender or variegated. They will bloom in spring to summer with outward or upward-facing flowers.
Plant the bulbs per package directions in spring or fall. Full sun to light shade is best and use well-drained loamy soil. Lilies can be used in containers, borders or group plantings. There are many hybrids to choose from in this group.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Bulbs can rot in poorly drained soils. Fungal diseases can occur during a persistent rainy period. Botrytis can affect the stem. The lily beetle and aphids may be pests. They are toxic to cats and rabbits and deer will browse the plants. Lily pollen will stain clothes and hands.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Rock Wall Garden at Scott Arboretum
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Black Spider
Cream color with Burgundy spots and black centers - 'Junior Joy'
Shorter with orange flowers - 'King Pete'
Yellow with orange spots and darker freckles - 'Monte Negro'
Red flowers - 'Push Off'
Cram flowers with burgundy spots - Rosella's Dream
Early bloomer with cream and pink flowers - 'Supreme Joy'
Orange flowers - 'Tiny Nugget'
Short with yellow flowers - 'Tiny Rocket'
Short with red flowers
- 'Black Spider
- 'Black Spider, 'Junior Joy', 'King Pete', 'Monte Negro', 'Push Off', Rosella's Dream, 'Supreme Joy', 'Tiny Nugget', 'Tiny Rocket'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Black Spider
Cream color with Burgundy spots and black centers - 'Junior Joy'
Shorter with orange flowers - 'King Pete'
Yellow with orange spots and darker freckles - 'Monte Negro'
Red flowers - 'Push Off'
Cram flowers with burgundy spots - Rosella's Dream
Early bloomer with cream and pink flowers - 'Supreme Joy'
Orange flowers - 'Tiny Nugget'
Short with yellow flowers - 'Tiny Rocket'
Short with red flowers
- 'Black Spider
- 'Black Spider, 'Junior Joy', 'King Pete', 'Monte Negro', 'Push Off', Rosella's Dream, 'Supreme Joy', 'Tiny Nugget', 'Tiny Rocket'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lilium
- Family:
- Liliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Three-celled capsules ripen in summer
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 4-6 inches across flowers with 6 colorful sepals and long stamens. They can be outward or upward-facing and bloom in spring to summer. Most have no scent.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow green linear leaves are alternate and appear whorled on the stem with parallel venation
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stout green to reddish stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
