Asiatic lilies (Lilium Asiatic hybrids) are hybrid lilies developed from several species.
They are cold hardy, relatively pest-free, and do not need staking.
Each flower has six petals and prominent anthers and stamens.
Credit:Yulia Naumenko / Getty Images
They bloom at the top of the stems.
They have a medium growth rate, and the bulbs can double every year.
The plants are toxic to dogs and especially toxic to cats.Deer andrabbits enjoy lilieswith no ill effects.
Plant so the flat end is down and pointy end is up.
Space about 8 inches apart.
Water well after planting.
The green stems will emerge in the spring.
As it flowers, remove spent blossoms with snips unless you want to save the seeds for propagating.
When the plant finishes flowering, leave the foliage as is.
By fall, the foliage will become unsightly and can be cut down to the ground.
The plant will become dormant in the winter.
Light
Asiatic lilies preferfull sun, but their roots like a cooler environment.
They prefer acidic soil, but they can tolerate a wider range of soil pH.
Water
Asiatic lilies need a steady supply of water in spring and summer.
verify they get about 1 to 2 inches of water per week during hot summers.
Allow the surface to dry between waterings to prevent root rot.
Temperature And Humidity
This summer-blooming plant likes warm temperatures and can survive cold winters.
It likes moderate humidity.
This plant needs a period of cool weather during winter to produce flowers.
Fertilizer
Fertilize in spring with a 10-10-10 or special bulb fertilizer when buds appear.
Supplemental fertilizer may be needed in the summer.
Types Of Asiatic Lily
There are many cultivars available, including dwarf sizes at 2 feet.
The North American Lily Society conducts an annual popularity poll where members vote on their favorites.
‘Purple Marble’ and ‘Hotel California’ have been favorites.
Asiatics also are bred withL.
longiflorum(the fragrant whiteEaster lily) to produce Longiflorum-Asiatic or LA hybrids.
LA hybrids are fragrant and about 4 feet tall.
Pruning
Unless you want to save the seed for propagating, it is best todeadhead spent flowers.
This plant will not rebloom, but removing the flowers creates a neater appearance and eliminates seed dispersal.
Leave the green foliage and allow it to die back naturally.
The advantage of propagating is that the offspring will be clones, i.e., identical to the mother bulb.
Therefore, you canmultiply the number of plantsyou have in the garden.
Also, the offspring will mature quickly to flower.
The downside is that viruses are transmitted through clones.
There are several ways to propagate an Asiatic lily, by bulb, scales, or bulblets.
However, you might grow lilies from the seed produced on your plants.
Keep in mind that you will not get clones because your plants are cultivars or hybrids.
Also, it will take a few years for the plant to mature enough to flower.
The upside is that viruses are not transmitted through seed.
They are relatively short, dont need staking, plus there are dwarf varieties.
The container will dry out faster than garden beds so you may have to water as it gets warmer.
Or repot after blooming has ended in late summer when there will be little stress on the plant.
To repot, gently remove the lily from its current pot.
Remove any brown or dead foliage and damaged or dying roots.
Replant into a larger pot with drainage holes that’s filled with potting mix.
Place the plant in the soil so the bulb is 6 inches below the rim of the container.
Overwintering
Asiatic lilies can be grown in the garden bed or in containers.
If grown in the garden bed, they can stay in the ground during winter.
Mulch with straw, pine needles, salt hay, or leaves.
The bulbs can be divided and stored to be replanted in the container the next year.
They can also get viruses and fungal diseases.
Aphids can transmit viruses, so it is important to treat them.
The 14-inch-long, scarlet red beetle appears in April and May.
Eggs are orange-brown, in rows under the foliage.
Hatching from the eggs are small, dark larvae that look like slugs.
The larvae feed on the foliage and move down to the soil to pupate.
Later, they emerge asadult beetles.
Look for the beetles in the spring when the lilies emerge.
Drop the beetles in a bucket of soapy water or crush them.
Destroy the eggs by squishing them with your fingers.
Slugs enjoy the emerging shoots in the spring.
Sprinkle the area with diatomaceous earth.
Aphids also enjoy new growth but will aim for the buds.
Spray with water from the hose or spray an insecticidal soap.
Aphids transmit viruses, so it is important to get rid of them.
There are two common types of fungal diseases: Botrytis and basal rot.
Botrytis occurs during wet, humid days with little air circulation.
Lower leaves may turn brown, and the rest of the foliage will look limp.
Basal rot is where the basal plate, the under part of the bulb, is affected.
Theleaves become yellow, there is stunted growth, and the plant may die.
Next time, avoid over fertilization, increase the soil drainage, and apply mulch.
They begin to bloom May through July and last about a month.
They rebloom each year and should be divided every few years to prevent overcrowding.
If planted correctly, there should not be any issues.
This will not damage the plant or the blossom.
Water less and see if the soil is a well-draining bang out or has too much clay.
If this is happening in the fall, it is a natural process of becoming dormant.
Leaves Turning Brown
Brown spots on the leaves can be a sign of Botrytis blight.
Use a fungicide to treat this fungal disease.
Divide the bulbs every few years.
The plants are often confused, but they are not the same plants.
Asiatic lilies are shorter than Oriental lilies, have little fragrance, and are easier to grow.
Oriental lilies have large, heavily scented blooms.
They also multiply more slowly than Asiatic lilies.
Asiatic lilies bloom in May, June, or July for about a month.
They bloom only once per season.
Their foliage dies down in the fall and they regrow the next summer.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Which lilies are toxic to pets?
North American Lily Society.Popularity Poll.
2020;12(7):773.
Published 2020 Jul 17. doi:10.3390/v12070773
