17 Types of Lilies You'll Love to Grow in Your Garden
With riotous color combos and sweet fragrance, these magical blooms belong in every garden.
Lilies are perhaps most well known for their intoxicating fragrance (oh, the sweet scent that comes from just a single bloom!). But beyond their famous scent profiles, there are lots of other reasons to love the popular perennial. Their stunning rainbow range of riotous colors and interesting shapes and sizes make these hardy flowers a dream for any gardener or flower arranger. Plus, they hold their own when planted with other best perennial flowers and plants, best flowers that bloom in summer, and other best flowers you should have in your garden.
Once you start digging into the wide world of lilies and how to grow and care for lilies, you'll learn all sorts of interesting facts about the different varieties. Did you know that all species of lilies fall into one of nine hybrid divisions, including Asiatic, American, Oriental, and more? Or that some 'lilies' aren't really lilies at all (we're looking at you calla lily, waterlily, and daylily)? Probably not—most people's knowledge of lilies begins with and ends with Stargazer! While these classifications are important for true lily connoisseurs and budding growers, if we're being honest, we're here for the pretty. Oh, and the lily's magical ability to feel nostalgic (Grandma's garden) and contemporary (modern bouquets) all at the same time.
Read on for the 17 types of lilies we just can't get enough of.
Acapulco Lily
This bright pink beauty is a choice lily for floral arrangements and also a stunner in the garden.
Division: Oriental hybrid
African Queen Lily
This variety boasts apricot-hued petals and can stand up to high temperatures. It's a solid performer in the garden and in containers.
Division: Trumpet hybrid
Stargazer Lily
Stargazers are one of the most popular, sensational, and mainstream lilies out there. They possess a strong fragrance, making them favorite cut flowers. Bonus: They attract butterflies!
Division: Oriental hybrid
Casablanca Lily
White as snow with intense fragrance, this classic is a lily fan favorite. It's a popular choice for bridal bouquets. (Attention brides: Snip off the pollen to avoid dress stains!)
Division: Oriental hybrid
Tiger Lily
This flower with statement-making orange petals and dark spots is a garden favorite. It's important to note that it is poisonous to cats before planting.
Division: American hybrid
Mona Lisa Lily
Similar in pattern to the Stargazer lily, this variety is a lighter, softer version of the more vibrant crowd favorite.
Division: Oriental hybrid
Tiny Bee Lily
Gorgeous golden blooms with tiny black spots in the center were originally developed for growing in pots but can be grown in beds as well. Their "dwarf" characteristics make them a nice choice for the fronts of borders.
Division: Dwarf Asiatic hybrid
Elodie Lily
With a semi-double bloom making it twice as special, this baby pink flower with tiny maroon spots has another attractive quality—it's pollen-free, making it an ideal candidate for bouquets.
Division: Asiatic hybrid
Tango Lily
The tango lily's characteristics include a two-toned petal with a high-contrast spatter effect. The deep purple-and-ivory version is shown here.
Division: Asiatic hybrid
Easter Lily
Still used to decorate church sanctuaries at Easter, these lilies can be planted outside in the ground as well. These elongated trumpet-shaped flowers boast a perfume-y scent.
Division: Longiflorum hybrid
Forever Susan Lily
Deep, saturated shades of orange and purple make this flower a summer garden standout.
Division: Asiatic hybrid
Lollypop Lily
This cheerful two-toned flower is a nice bridge between white and pink blooms in a garden bed.
Division: Asiatic hybrid
Canada Lily
Lilium canadense, also known as the wild yellow-lily or meadow lily (because it's often found there), has downward-facing flowers that are yellow on the outside with a contrasting maroonish coloring on the inside.
Division: American hybrid
Turk's Cap Lily
These unique blooms are easily recognizable for their curved petals and downward-facing position.
Division: Martagon hybrid
Madonna Lily
The history of lilies can be traced back about 4,00o years to this very flower. It's notable for this fact, as well as its simplicity and purity.
Division: Candidum hybrid
Orange Pixie Lily
Easy to grow and early to bloom—we're hooked already! The name "pixie" alludes to their smaller stature, making them a good candidate for container gardening.
Division: Asiatic hybrid
Regale Lily
Boasting enormous flowers (up to 6 inches!), these impressive blooms are real showstoppers. Golden centers (also called throats) and pretty magenta stripes on the outside add interest to the otherwise white petals.
Division: Species and cultivars of species
Amy Mitchell is the managing editor at Country Living and VERANDA. She writes about a wide range of topics, including homes and lifestyle content.
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