Lily

Plant lily bulbs in autumn or early spring in a site that receives at least six hours of direct sun with shade at the base. Lilies prefer their heads in the sun and their roots in cool shade, making them ideal for planting among low-growing perennials or ground covers. Dig holes six to eight inches deep for large bulbs and set them on a handful of coarse sand to ensure drainage beneath the bulb. Space bulbs eight to twelve inches apart.

Lilies are stem-rooting plants, meaning they produce roots along the buried portion of the stem above the bulb. This makes deep planting important and also means that mulching around lily stems helps support the additional root system. Apply three to four inches of organic mulch to keep roots cool and soil evenly moist. Water regularly during the growing season, providing about one inch per week.

Stake tall varieties such as Oriental and trumpet lilies early in the season, using individual stakes or grow-through supports. Remove spent flowers by snapping off the seed pod while leaving as much stem and foliage as possible. The remaining leaves continue to photosynthesize and feed the bulb for next year. Cut stems back only after they have turned brown in fall. Apply a balanced bulb fertilizer in spring as growth begins.

The genus Lilium encompasses roughly 100 species native to temperate regions across the Northern Hemisphere, spanning Europe, Asia, and North America. The greatest species diversity is found in the mountainous regions of western China, the Himalayas, and the mountains of Myanmar and Vietnam, suggesting this area as the likely center of origin for the genus. Wild lilies typically inhabit woodland margins, alpine meadows, and well-drained slopes where they receive dappled light and benefit from cool, moist root conditions. The earliest documented cultivation of lilies dates to ancient Sumer and Egypt around 3,000 years ago, where the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) was grown for both ornamental and medicinal purposes. The ancient Greeks associated the lily with the goddess Hera, and Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder described its cultivation in the first century CE. During the Middle Ages, monasteries throughout Europe maintained Madonna lilies in their physic gardens for use in healing salves and poultices. The age of exploration brought new species to European gardens, with Lilium martagon and Lilium chalcedonicum arriving by the sixteenth century. The nineteenth century saw a flood of Asian species reaching Western horticulture, including the spectacular Lilium auratum from Japan in 1862, which caused a sensation in Victorian England. Modern lily breeding was revolutionized in the mid-twentieth century by Jan de Graaff at Oregon Bulb Farms in the United States, who developed the first widely successful hybrid strains. His work led to the creation of the Asiatic and trumpet hybrid divisions that dominate gardens today. The International Lily Register, maintained by the Royal Horticultural Society, now records over 10,000 named cultivars organized into nine horticultural divisions based on parentage and flower form.

Lilies require well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 for most types, though Asiatic lilies tolerate a slightly wider range. Amend the planting area deeply with compost and incorporate coarse sand in heavy clay soils. Apply a balanced bulb fertilizer as shoots emerge in spring and again just as buds begin to form. Top-dress with compost annually. Oriental lilies prefer slightly acidic soil and benefit from an application of sulfur if soil pH is above 6.5.

Cut lily stems for arrangements when the first bud on the stem begins to open and show color. Cut stems in the early morning with a sharp knife, leaving at least one-third of the stem and foliage on the plant to nourish the bulb. Remove the orange anthers from open flowers before they shed pollen, which stains fabric and skin. Deadhead spent flowers in the garden by snapping off the seed pod while leaving the green stem intact until it browns naturally in fall.

Fresh lilies last seven to fourteen days in a vase, making them outstanding cut flowers. Remove anthers as flowers open to prevent pollen stains. Change water every two to three days and recut stems. Lily pollen stains can be removed from fabric by lifting with sticky tape rather than rubbing. To dry lilies, press individual flowers between parchment sheets under heavy books. Unlike most bulbs, lily bulbs never go fully dormant and should not be stored dry. If lifting is necessary, replant immediately or store briefly in barely damp peat moss.