Lilies (Lilium) are fabulous additions to the perennial garden. They rise up out of the ground, with beautiful spikes of dark green foliage, and as the flower buds begin to form, the memories of sweetly scented flowers waft through the gardener’s mind.

There are many different types of lilies, designated by the flowers’ shape and position on the stem. Asiatic Lilies have upfacing flowers in strong colors, such as bright yellows, pinks and reds, many heavily spotted. They are the first of the hybrids to flower. Martagon lilies have small; 2” flowers with petals curving back to the point of touching. As many as 50 flowers can adorn the stem! Trumpet lilies show-off outward facing trumpets up to 8” long, many of which are fragrant, especially at night. Oriental types are late flowering, large and showy with fabulous fragrance. L. speciosum, or Japanese lily, is also very fragrant having 6” wide flowers with recurving petals.

Of course I have several I would like to mention for your gardening pleasure! ‘Casa Blanca’ is a pure white oriental lily with strong fragrance. The flowers can be up to 8” across, held aloft on sturdy 6’ stems. This one is especially effective in a Moon Garden. ‘Stargazer’ remains very popular, a fragrant type having white flowers with crimson bands. The Martagon lilies are just so sweet with their cute little Turk’s cap flowers. And ‘Black Beauty’ remains one of my all-time favorites, growing to 8’ tall with huge crimson flowers with bright green stars in the center of each. One stalk can have as many as 30 blooms. It also flowers late, at a time when the summer-weary garden may need a bit of excitement! With my favorites now out in the open, I must add I love them all, but am restricted to the length of this writing!

Lilies need at least 6 hours of sun & well-drained soil. I topdress mine each spring with composted cow manure and let them go¼ (Or is that GROW!) They provide vertical accents and depth in the garden, often towering above the other perennials. They are great cut flowers, although it can be quite a dilemma deciding if one should put them in a vase or leave them in the garden. Although they don’t flower all summer long, they are indeed “presents” for the eyes and senses.