Oriental lilies are wonderful often under utilized summer flowering perennials that will add color and fragrance to your garden year after year. Oriental lilies are best known for their large 4" - 6" colorful blooms that are intensely fragrant and their high value as cut flowers.  Oriental lilies, like other summer flowering bulbs including dahlias, garden peonies and gladiolus, can be planted in the spring. Lilies planted in early spring will produce showy blooms that same summer. 

Planting and caring for hardy oriental lilies is very easy. Lilies need well-drained soil in an area that receives sun or part shade. The ideal situation will place the lily flowers and leaves in sun while shading their roots. When planting oriental lilies, space them 6 to 10 inches apart and 6 inches deep. Planting lilies deep will allow them to form roots along their stems. Fertilize lilies lightly monthly with Down to Earth 4-8-4 organic fertilizer, starting when the shoots begin to emerge. Tall lilies should be staked and protected from high winds. Mulch well to keep lily roots cool. Remove blooms when they die to prevent seedpod formation. Cut stems off at ground level after they turn brown, but never cut them down while the leaves are still green.Some of our favorite oriental lilies are:

Casa Blanca Oriental Lily - one of the most fragrant lilies next to Stargazer lily with pure white, large blooms

Coral Queen Oriental Lily - very fragrant oriental lily with 5" coral pink and lemon yellow blooms

Dizzy Oriental Lily - an adorable oriental lily with red and white striped blooms and a pleasing fragrance. Dizzy makes a great cut flower.

Stargazer Oriental Lily - our personal favorite. This oriental lily was breed specifically for the cut flower industry. Highly fragrant, sturdy stems and knockout pink blooms!