Lilies are popular with gardeners because they have stunning flowers and are easy to grow. However, with so many different types of lilies available, it can be tough to decide which is best for your garden. In this blog, we’ll discuss the types of lilies we have in stock and provide helpful tips for selecting the perfect variety.

Left to right: Oriental Lily, Asiatic Lily and Oriental Trumpet Lily

Oriental Lilies

Oriental lilies are one of the most popular varieties due to their large, fragrant flowers and wide range of colours. They are known for their stunning blooms, which can be up to 25cm in diameter and come in shades of red, pink, white, and yellow. Oriental lilies are also highly regarded for their resistance to disease and pests, making them a low-maintenance option for any garden.

Oriental lilies prefer well-draining soil and partial shade, making them ideal for planting in borders or containers. The flowers are heavily scented which some people enjoy but others would prefer to avoid. They are quite tall, ranging from 90-120cm, so they need a bit of space to reach their full potential.

Asiatic Lilies

Asiatic lilies are usually the first of the lily varieties to flower, blooming in early summer. They are known for their upward-facing flowers and multiple shades, including red, orange, yellow, pink, and white.

Asiatic lilies are compact, averaging 60-90cm and because they grow excellently in pots, they’re a popular choice for smaller spaces. They also thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, making them a flexible option.

Additionally, Asiatic lilies are hardy and can withstand colder temperatures better than many lily varieties. They’re fragrance-free and have showy flowers, too, making them the preferred choice for flower arrangements.

Oriental-Trumpet Lilies

Also called OT lilies or oriental trumpets, these are a cross between oriental lilies and trumpet lilies. They have a strong fragrance like their parents and relatively open flowers like the oriental lily. They also come in a wide array of colours and bi-colours.

OT lilies tower tall at 120-180cm and need a bit of extra room in the garden. They are a strong option for cooler climates as they can withstand colder temperatures better than other lily varieties.

Tree Lilies

Tree lilies, as their name suggests, are tall and majestic lilies that can grow up to 240cm tall. They’re a hybrid of the oriental lily and trumpet lily varieties and are known for their large, fragrant flowers that bloom in mid to late summer. Tree lilies come in a range of colours, including pink, red, white, and yellow, and they’re often used to create a dramatic focal point in the garden.

When choosing a tree lily, consider the size of your garden first. Tree lilies require lots of space and should be planted in a sunny location with well-draining soil. It’s also important to choose a variety suitable for your climate, as tree lilies are not frost-tolerant and can require additional protection in winter.

Left to right: Tiger Lily, Lilium Longiflorum and Turk's Cap Lily

Tiger Lily

Tiger lilies are a distinct and eye-catching variety of lilies renowned for their large, showy flowers with striking patterns. The petals feature deep orange or red hues adorned with dark spots, resembling the distinctive markings of a tiger, hence their name.

They’re also known for their resilience and can adapt to different soil types, including sandy, loamy, or clay soils and tiger lilies prefer full sun to partial shade.

Tiger lilies spread easily in the garden so you can grow them in pots if you prefer to keep them contained and they typically bloom in mid to late summer, growing to a height of 90-120cm.

Lilum Longiflorum

Also known as the Christmas lily because they’re bred to flower earlier to coincide with Christmas, these are usually white and have trumpet-shaped, fragrant, flowers. It is an oriental type of lily so will grow well in the same conditions.

Turk’s Cap Lily

The Turk’s Cap Lily is renowned for its stunning blooms, longevity, and ease of growing. With tall, strong stems that can produce 10-20 blooms each, they will take a full sun position but achieve greater height and better flower colour in part shade as they are more of a woodland plant type.

Adding lime to the soil may be required, but like all lily varieties, a well-drained compost-rich soil is essential. Turk’s caps are best left to naturalise and a fertiliser application every spring will maximise the potential of these beautiful blooms.

Other Types of Lilies

There are many plants with lily in their name that aren’t true lilies and canna lilies, calla lilies, water lilies, and more, fall under this category. They all have gorgeous flowers but generally require different growing conditions.

Top left to right: Calla, Canna, lily of the valley. Bottom left to right: pineapple, storm and water lily

Lily Selector Guide

Lily Type	Position	Height	Flowering	Special Features	Ideal for
Oriental	Part-shade	90-120cm	Summer	· Fragrant · Large flowers	· Pots · Shaded gardens · Borders and beds
Asiatic	Full sun to part-shade	60-90cm	Late Spring – Early Summer	· Early blooming · Compact plant	· Pots · Balconies and patios · Borders and beds
Oriental-Trumpet	Full sun to part-shade	120-180cm	Late Spring – Summer	· Fragrant · Outstanding choice of colours	· Pots · Borders and beds
Tree	Full sun	up to 240cm	Summer	· Tall · Fragrant trumpet-shaped blooms	· Statement planting · Tall background planting · Larger gardens
Tiger	Full sun to part-shade	90-150cm	Summer	· Speckled petals · Abundant flowers	· Pots · Borders and beds
Longiflorum	Full sun to part-shade	40-100cm	Spring – Summer	· Trumpet-shaped flowers · Early blooming	· Pots · Borders and beds
Turk’s Cap	Part-shade	90-120cm	Summer	· Fragrant · Small flowers	· Pots · Shaded gardens · Borders and beds

Buy Lilies Online at Mr Fothergill’s

Mr Fothergill's stocks a large variety of lilium to choose from. As most grow from bulbs, they are only seasonally available, usually between June and September. If you have any further questions about choosing the right lily or about any of our products, don’t hesitate to contact us or take a deeper dive into our garden advice blog!