About Lily Flowers
Many plants with trumpet-shaped flowers are called lilies, but only those in the Lilium genus are true lilies. The most popular of these in the garden are Asiatic lilies and Oriental lilies. The number one spot probably goes to Asiatic lily flowers, recognizable by their upward-facing blooms on stalks that rise to 5 feet (a little over 1 m.). These hybrid plants come in many colors and often have darker “freckles.” They are easy to care for and multiply quickly. Oriental lilies are the flamboyant rock stars of the lily clan with huge, fragrant flowers in white, pink, and scarlet. The flower stalks can grow to 6 feet (1.5 m.) tall.
When Do Lilies Bloom?
True lilies bloom at different times between spring and fall. If you give some thought to lily bloom times when selecting bulbs, you can plant a selection that will keep your garden in bloom all summer long. Exactly when do lilies bloom? Asiatic lilies lead off the pack, opening their pretty flowers in mid-to-late spring. The flowers last a long time in the garden, often well into summer. Bloom time for this lily also applies to double Asiatic lilies and Martagon lilies. The bloom time for lilies in the Oriental group starts just as the Asiatic lilies are fading. These sweetly scented lily flowers open in mid-to-late summer. Oriental-Asiatic hybrids tend to bloom in mid-season, while Oriental and double Oriental are late season lilies. If you select a site protected from wind and afternoon sun, the blooms may last a few weeks or longer.
How Long Until Lilies Bloom?
If the months pass and you are still waiting for those lilies to bloom, all is not necessarily lost. Newly planted bulbs sometimes don’t bloom at all the first growing season but will do just fine starting in year two. Older lilies might not perform on schedule either. In time, lilies just run out of steam and stop producing flowers. This is especially true if too many bulbs are crowded together underground. Sometimes, small mammals will also snack on the bulbs, putting them out of commission. Note that not all plants called lilies are in the Lilium clan, including plants like daylilies, peace lilies, and calla lilies. Each of these plants will have their own specific bloom times.
