Lily (Lilium)

About Lily (Lilium)

True lilies are hardy summer bulbs with big trumpet, bowl or Turk's-cap flowers, from Asiatic lilies in June to fragrant Oriental lilies in August. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds visit them (NC State). WARNING FOR CAT OWNERS: every part of a true lily, even a few grains of pollen licked off fur or water from a vase, can cause deadly kidney failure in cats; daylilies (Hemerocallis, a separate plant) are just as dangerous to cats (FDA, ASPCA).

NC State lists zones 3-8 for lilies (Oriental hybrids 3-9); Asiatic and trumpet types like cool summers, while Easter lilies do well on the hot coast (Clemson). Tiger lily (L. lancifolium) spreads by little bulbils, has naturalized across eastern North America and is hard to contain (NC State).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant bulbs in early to mid fall or in spring, handling them gently since the scales snap off (Chicago Botanic Garden, Clemson). Cover them with soil about twice as deep as the bulb is wide (a 2-inch bulb under 4 inches of soil), except Madonna lilies, which go in shallow; stake tall kinds.

Soil

Deep, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; wet soil rots the bulbs. Mulch to keep the roots cool while the tops get sun (NC State, Clemson, Chicago Botanic Garden).

Deep, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; mulch to keep roots cool (NC State, Clemson).

Feeding

• Monthly during the growing season: low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10. Clemson suggests feeding lilies monthly; follow a soil test and water it in.

Don't cut stems while they are green; wait until they brown, then cut at ground level (Clemson). Overly wet soil rots the bulbs (NC State).

Harvest

Lilies bloom from late May into early September, depending on type (Chicago Botanic Garden). Remove faded flowers so seedpods don't form, but let stems turn brown before cutting them at the ground (Clemson). Because even the vase water can poison cats (FDA), keep cut lilies out of homes with cats.

Varieties (19)

Pests to watch for

Aphids, Slugs, Brown garden snail, Deer, Lily leaf beetle, Narcissus bulb fly

Diseases and problems

Gray mold (Botrytis), Mosaic viruses, Bulb rot

In the kitchen

Keeping it: Change the water every couple of days and keep the vase cool and away from fruit; pull off each flower as it fades.

Safety: The pollen stains skin and clothes (NC State). The big danger is to cats (see pets).

Pets: Deadly to cats: the ASPCA lists true lilies as toxic to cats (kidney failure). Every part, even pollen or vase water, can poison a cat, and kidney damage is usually permanent if treatment is delayed 18 hours or more (FDA). Get a cat to a vet right away after any contact. The ASPCA lists lilies as non-toxic to dogs and horses; dogs may get a mild stomach upset (FDA).