Types of Lilies
Explore the main types of lilies for US gardens: Asiatic, Oriental, trumpet, and more. Covers bloom times, USDA zones, heights, and care requirements.
Key takeaways
- Asiatic lilies bloom first in June, are the easiest to grow, and tolerate the widest range of US climates from Zone 3–8
- Oriental lilies bloom July–August and produce the strongest fragrance, but require acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5) and don't tolerate hot, dry summers well
- Trumpet lilies are the tallest type (4–6 feet) and most heat-tolerant, making them better choices for Zones 7–9 than Oriental lilies
- LA Hybrids and OT (Orienpet) hybrids combine traits of different types for wider climate adaptation and longer bloom windows
- All true lilies are toxic to cats—a fact to know before planting near outdoor cats or bringing cut flowers indoors
True lilies vs. plants called lilies
True lilies belong to the genus Lilium. Many popular plants called lilies—daylilies, calla lilies, peace lilies, and canna lilies—are different plants that happen to share the common name.
This distinction matters for three reasons. First, true lilies grow from true bulbs with scales. Daylilies grow from fleshy root crowns; cannas from rhizomes; callas from corms. Care and planting differ. Second, true lilies are highly toxic to cats—kidney failure can result from small exposures. Daylilies carry this same severe toxicity for cats; calla lilies cause a different type of irritation. Third, true lilies bloom once per season, while daylilies produce successive blooms over weeks from multiple buds.
The six main true lily types grown in US gardens each have distinct bloom times, height ranges, fragrance levels, and climate preferences.
Asiatic hybrids: the beginner’s lily
Asiatic lilies bloom first, in June in most US zones, are the easiest to grow, and are available in the widest color range of any lily group.
Key characteristics:
- Bloom time: June (Zone 6–7), late May (Zone 8–9), early July (Zone 4–5)
- Height: 18 inches to 4 feet depending on variety
- Fragrance: none
- USDA zones: 3–8
- Sun: full sun to light shade
- Soil: well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
Asiatics are not fragrant, which surprises many gardeners expecting perfume from lilies. The trade-off is enormous range of color: solid red, orange, yellow, white, pink, purple, and bicolors. They multiply reliably and naturalize in US gardens over 3–5 years.
Top Asiatic varieties for US gardens:
| Variety | Color | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enchantment | Orange | 3 ft | Classic; one of the most reliable |
| Tiny Sundae | Cream and red | 12 in | Dwarf; good for containers |
| Connecticut King | Yellow | 3 ft | Upward-facing flowers |
| Navona | White | 3 ft | Clean white with dark anthers |
| Gran Sasso | Yellow | 3.5 ft | Long-lasting cut flower |
For care details on Asiatic lilies grown in US gardens, our Asiatic lily care guide covers soil, planting depth, and fertilizing.
Oriental hybrids: fragrant late-season bloomers
Oriental lilies are what most people picture when they imagine a perfumed lily—large, outward-facing blooms with a powerful, sweet fragrance that carries 20–30 feet downwind on warm evenings.
Key characteristics:
- Bloom time: July–August
- Height: 3–6 feet
- Fragrance: heavy, sweet
- USDA zones: 4–9
- Sun: full sun; afternoon shade appreciated in Zones 7–9
- Soil: well-drained, slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5)
The acidic soil requirement is the most common stumbling block. Orientals struggle in alkaline soils common in the Midwest and Great Plains. If your soil tests above pH 6.5, work in sulfur or acidifying compost before planting.
Top Oriental varieties:
| Variety | Color | Height | Fragrance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Blanca | White | 4 ft | Very strong |
| Stargazer | Pink with white edge | 3 ft | Strong |
| Black Beauty | Deep red | 5 ft | Moderate |
| Acapulco | Pink | 3 ft | Strong |
| Tom Pouce | Pink | 3 ft | Moderate |
Stargazer is the most widely grown Oriental lily in the US and a staple of the cut flower industry. It blooms upward-facing rather than outward, which is unusual for Oriental types.
Trumpet lilies: tall and heat-tolerant
Trumpet lilies have the largest flowers of any lily group (8–10 inch blooms) and the most heat tolerance, making them better choices than Orientals for the southern US.
Key characteristics:
- Bloom time: July (between Asiatic and Oriental)
- Height: 4–6 feet
- Fragrance: moderate to heavy, different from Oriental—more spicy than sweet
- USDA zones: 4–9
- Sun: full sun
- Soil: well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
The height of trumpet lilies—most varieties hit 5–6 feet—means they need staking in windy locations or when planted in exposed beds.
Notable trumpet varieties:
- African Queen: Apricot-orange, 5–6 feet, widely available
- Golden Splendor: Golden yellow, 5 feet, robust vigor
- Pink Perfection: Deep pink, 5 feet, fragrant
- White Henry: White with orange center, 5 feet
LA Hybrids: Asiatic vigor, trumpet size
LA hybrids (Longiflorum-Asiatic) cross Easter lilies with Asiatic hybrids. The result is a lily with larger flowers than standard Asiatics, no fragrance, upward-facing blooms, and improved heat tolerance compared to Orientals.
Key characteristics:
- Bloom time: June–July
- Height: 3–4 feet
- Fragrance: none to slight
- USDA zones: 4–9
- Very good cut flower
LA hybrids are increasingly popular in the US cut flower trade because the longer stem and bigger bloom produce high-value cuts. For home gardeners, they’re a useful middle ground—easier than Orientals, bigger than standard Asiatics.
OT Hybrids (Orienpet): the most garden-worthy
Orienpet hybrids (Oriental-Trumpet crosses) may be the single most garden-friendly lily group available. They combine Oriental fragrance and flower size with trumpet lily heat tolerance and height.
Key characteristics:
- Bloom time: July–August
- Height: 4–8 feet
- Fragrance: heavy, sweet-spicy
- USDA zones: 4–9
- More heat-tolerant than pure Orientals
- Tolerates soil pH 6.0–7.0 (less demanding than Orientals)
Top OT varieties:
| Variety | Color | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheherazade | Red and cream | 5–6 ft | Showstopper; long-lasting |
| Northern Carillon | Peach-yellow | 4–5 ft | Excellent fragrance |
| Garden Party | White with pink | 5 ft | Strong grower |
| Conca d’Or | Yellow with white | 6–8 ft | Exceptional height |
For gardeners in Zones 7–9 who have struggled with Oriental lilies, switching to Orienpet hybrids often solves the problem.
Native North American lilies
Two native lilies deserve wider use in US gardens:
Canada lily (Lilium canadense): Native from Ontario south to Georgia. Grows 3–5 feet. Produces nodding, bell-shaped flowers in yellow-orange to red. Zones 3–9. Thrives in moist soils and light shade—making it one of the few lilies that tolerates the difficult east-facing position under canopy.
Michigan lily (Lilium michiganense): Native to the upper Midwest. Similar to Canada lily with reflexed petals. Zones 3–7. Tolerates wet meadow conditions.
Native lilies support native pollinators, particularly ruby-throated hummingbirds and swallowtail butterflies, in ways that hybrid cultivars often do not. The Xerces Society lists native lilies as high-value plants for pollinator-inclusive gardens in the eastern US.
Planting guide for US zones
| Type | Plant depth | Spacing | Best planting time | Zone range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asiatic | 6–8 inches | 12 inches | Fall or spring | 3–8 |
| Oriental | 6–8 inches | 12 inches | Fall | 4–9 |
| Trumpet | 8–10 inches | 18 inches | Fall | 4–9 |
| LA Hybrid | 6–8 inches | 12 inches | Fall or spring | 4–9 |
| OT Hybrid | 8–10 inches | 18 inches | Fall | 4–9 |
| Canada lily | 4–5 inches | 12 inches | Fall | 3–9 |
Fall planting for Oriental and trumpet types gives bulbs time to establish roots before cold sets in. Spring-planted bulbs are available at most garden centers but bloom less vigorously in their first year.
Caring for lilies across the season
All true lilies share basic care requirements:
Watering: 1 inch per week during growth and bloom. Lily bulbs rot if sitting in wet soil, so drainage is more important than irrigation frequency.
Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) at 2 inches deep when shoots emerge in spring. Follow with a bloom-booster formula (high phosphorus, low nitrogen) when buds appear.
After bloom: Do not remove the foliage after flowers fade. The leaves photosynthesize energy back into the bulb for next year’s bloom. Cut foliage back after it yellows naturally in fall.
Division: Lily bulbs multiply each year. After 3–5 years, clumps become crowded and bloom declines. Dig and divide in fall, replanting bulbs at appropriate spacing.
For tips on growing lilies alongside deer-resistant companions in a mixed perennial bed, our deer resistant perennials guide covers which lilies deer tend to avoid (Asiatics) versus those they target (Orientals).
Calla lilies are popular for similar summer bloom effect but are a completely different plant—see our calla lily guide for care and zone information. For a companion plant approach to protect all types of true lilies from aphids and lily beetles, see our companion planting chart.
Sarah Mitchell is a Master Gardener and garden writer based in the Pacific Northwest. She has been growing food and flowers for over 15 years across USDA zones 7 and 8.