Home & Garden Garden 15 Lovely Types of Lilies for Your Garden Transform your yard into a floral-scented paradise. By Gia Mora Gia Mora Writer and Quality Team Editor University of Colorado University of Pisa Gia is a writer, performer, and producer who has written extensively about veganism, food waste, and sustainable living. Learn about our editorial process Published May 26, 2022 J. MacNeill-Traylor / Getty Images Home & Garden Planting Guides Indoor Gardening Urban Farms Insects Perhaps the most recognizable garden flowers, lilies are gorgeous summer-blooming perennials that bring color, texture, and fragrance to any garden. Lilies grow from bulbs into six-petaled flowers of various sizes and shapes atop one- to eight-foot-tall stems. These sturdy, branchless stalks make lilies ideal garden flowers. Native to the temperate climates of North America, Europe, and Asia, lilies can thrive in many hardiness zones. Here, we’ve selected 15 beautiful lilies you can plant in your own backyard. Lilies are toxic to cats. For more information about the safety of specific plants, consult the ASPCA's searchable database. 1 of 15 Casa Blanca Lily (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’) Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Bring bees and butterflies to your garden by planting Casa Blanca lilies. Their graceful white petals house green stamen with blood-orange anthers that bloom on three- to four-foot-tall stalks. These hybrid Oriental lilies are highly fragrant, bringing an irresistible scent to any yard. Casa Blanca lilies look best when planted in small to medium-sized groups (up to 12 bulbs). These hardy perennials can be grown both in the ground and in containers, and they make excellent cut flowers for your mid to late summer garden party. USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 2 of 15 African Queen Trumpet Lilies (Lilium ‘African Queen’) Epibase / Wikimedia Commons / CC By 3.0 African queen trumpet lilies have lovely six- to eight-inch long apricot-tangerine blossoms with a raspberry-plum reverse. Their sturdy, six-foot-tall stems can house up to a dozen flowers. These giant yet elegant lilies bloom in mid to late summer and provide gardens with an intoxicating fragrance. Plant your African queen trumpet lily bulbs behind other perennials for a striking aesthetic effect from these exotic perennials. African queen trumpet lilies like their bulbs planted in the shade and their blooms peeking into the sunlight. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 3 of 15 Royal Lily (Lilium regale) JLPC / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 With up to 25 blossoms per stem, these trumpet lilies have aubergine streaks on the outside with yellow throats surrounding tangerine anthers. Royal lilies can grow in containers or in the ground, making them ideal for gardens big and small. With stalks four to six feet tall, royal lilies grow nicely with other perennials and annuals. These midsummer bloomers love to keep their roots in the shade and their flowers in the sun. Because of concerns with pests, molds, and viruses, these lilies require some time and attention from a gardener. USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8.Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained soils. 4 of 15 Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense) Veronica Starcevich / 500px / Getty Images A graceful wildflower from the prairies of North America, Michigan lilies can grow up to five feet tall and two feet wide. Their orange and brown- or purple-spotted petals curve backward over a raspberry reverse to expose long stamen and pistil, adding visual variety to any garden. Planting these perennials does more than add interest: it helps keep the Michigan lily alive. Thanks to habitat destruction, removal, and deer predation, this flower is listed as an endangered species in New York state. Plant Michigan lilies in groups of at least three to best display their blooms. USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8.Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained soils. 5 of 15 Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium martagon) Rosmarie Wirz / Getty Images Like the Michigan lily, the Turk’s cap lily has delicate, recurved six-inch petals known for attracting hummingbirds. Some of these purple and crimson-colored lilies have spots; others do not. A fragrant perennial, Turk's cap lilies can grow up to six feet tall with 30 to 50 blooms appearing on a single stalk. This martagon hybrid can tolerate hot summers so long as they have sun-dappled afternoons. Keep your Turk’s cap lily in the shade to produce the biggest, most luxurious blossoms. USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8.Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained soils. 6 of 15 White Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium martagon ‘Album’) With pure white petals steeply recurving back to reveal green and orange stamen, the white Turk’s cap lily gives variety to your garden bloom size. Up to 40 small, two-inch flowers can bloom on a single five- to seven-foot stem. White Turk’s cap blossoms add color and dimension when planted below trees or shrubs. These martagon hybrids bloom earlier in the summer and can be grown in well-drained containers or plots. The white Turk’s cap lily is disease-resistant, making it an effortless and beautiful addition to any backyard. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7.Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained soils. 7 of 15 Black Beauty Lily (Lilium martagon ‘Black Beauty’) JelaRadosavljevic / Getty Images A garden favorite, this Orienpet hybrid is fragrant and long-lasting. The black beauty’s three-inch recurved raspberry flowers burst from a chartreuse star. White lines each petal’s elegant edges, and the upward-scooping stamen are tipped with blood orange anthers. When black beauties bloom in mid to late summer, a single four- to seven-foot stalk can bear 20, 40, or even 150 blossoms. Keep the roots of this martagon hybrid cool, but don’t plant them in the shade as their stems can grow weak. Also, keep an eye out for leaf beetles, which can pose a problem. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8.Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained soils. 8 of 15 Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium) DK Media / Getty Images The dark burgundy or black spots on these five-inch flowers give tiger lilies their common name. Their two- to five-foot-tall stalks house up to 10 coral-colored blossoms, each with eye-catching elongated stamen. These Asiatic perennials are hardy, relatively drought-tolerant, and bloom in late summer. They can grow in the ground or in a container (just don’t overwater). Tiger lilies are prone to the highly contagious mosaic virus, which doesn’t affect their petals but can disfigure other lily varieties. For that reason, horticulturalists recommend planting your tiger lilies away from other Oriental or Asiatic lilies in your garden. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7.Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained soils. 9 of 15 Bright Diamond Lily (Lilium ‘Bright Diamond’) User10095428_393 / Getty Images The satin white leaves of the bright diamond lily shine in any garden. This Longiflorum-Asiatic flower has lithe, pale green stamen topped with burnt orange anthers. Their hardy, glossy, dark green stems grow three to four feet tall and bloom in early to midsummer. The bright diamond lily mixes well with other perennials and annuals in the garden. Plant them in a container or in the ground in groups of three or more for the greatest visual effect. These lilies often struggle with aphids, slugs, and other pests as well as molds, so they require a bit of gardener attention. USDA Growing Zones: 4-8.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 10 of 15 Stargazer Lily (Lilium ‘Stargazer’) Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography / Getty Images A vibrant Oriental, the stargazer lily has upward-facing crimson-dotted magenta flowers. In mid to late summer, these attention-grabbing six-inch blossoms appear eight to a stalk and bring a pop of pink to any backyard. Stargazers are known for their intense, almost spicy scent. At two to three feet tall, these lilies are some of the shortest, so they mix well with other perennials and annuals. Stargazers are easy to grow, have sturdy stalks, and attract a number of pollinators—all pluses for novice gardeners. Keep them in the sun most of the day to avoid leggy stems. USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 11 of 15 Patricia’s Pride Lily (Lilium ‘Patricia’s Pride’) AHPhotoswpg / Getty Images Also called Purple Rain, this upward-facing Asiatic hybrid lily lives up to its name. A deep purple heart extends out from a yellow throat into white petals. Patricia’s Pride lilies are on the shorter side, standing just three to four feet tall. Each slender stem houses four or five delightful blossoms. These perennials mix well with other flowers and make excellent border plants. Patricia’s Pride lilies have sensitive stems that require protection from heavy wind. But once you’ve planted these beauties, they come back in even greater numbers—a lazy gardener’s dream come true. USDA Growing Zones: 3-8.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist 12 of 15 Apricot Fudge Lily (Lilium ‘Apricot Fudge’) okimo / Getty Images Look no further for a truly unique garden addition. Apricot fudge lilies resemble roses with their bulbous blooms. Aptly named, their soft color and extended pistil make their three-inch flowers stand out in a crowd. These Longiflorum-Asiatic lilies also have a luscious fragrance that wafts off their early to midsummer blossoms. Unfortunately, this variety is prone to aphid, beetle, and weevil infestations and requires more attention than other lilies. With a little TLC, however, apricot fudge lilies add ambiance to any garden. Plant these perennials in groups for the most striking visual display. USDA Growing Zones: 3-8.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 13 of 15 Brasilia Lily (Lilium ‘Brasilia’) Michel VIARD / Getty Images An exquisite Oriental lily, the Brasilia has large, outward-facing white petals. Gardeners love to watch the magenta-traced scalloped edges darken into crimson during this lily’s mid to late summer bloom. Even better? The intoxicating scent of the Brasilia lasts from the first flower to the last petal drop. These perennials grow well in containers, making them ideal for urban gardeners. In the ground, their sturdy three- to four-foot stalks make excellent garden border flowers and look best when planted in groups of at least three. Watch out for molds and pests as they frequently appear on these lilies. USDA Growing Zones: 4-9.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 14 of 15 Arbatax Lily (Lilium ‘Arbatax’) Daimei Kato/Aflo / Getty Images A breathtaking blossom, the arbatax lily has pink petals extending from a white heart. Featuring sharp leaves on four- to five-foot-tall stems, this gently scented lily provides stunning cut flowers – as long as you can find a vase big enough to accommodate its 6- to 12-inch wide blossoms. These Asiatic-Longiflorum lilies bloom in early to midsummer. Plant them in groups of up to 12 bulbs. If you’re in a cooler climate, add mulch to the roots in the winter. Mix these perennials with annuals or other summer-blooming plants. Arbatax lilies are great for balconies and patios because they grow well in containers. USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. 15 of 15 Dwarf Asiatic Tiny Dessert Lily (Lilium ‘Tiny Dessert’) Mgoodyear / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Don’t let the name fool you—dwarf Asiatic lilies are not among the shortest of the Lilium family. Standing on two- to five-foot-tall stems, these Asiatic hybrids bear four- to six-inch upward-facing blossoms. This feature makes these mid-to-late-summer bloomers fabulous garden border plants. In contrast to other varieties, tiny dessert lilies are unscented. These sunny flowers bring warmth to the garden when planted in decent-sized clumps. Bred in the Netherlands for container growing, dwarf Asiatic tiny dessert lilies work equally well in well-irrigated lawn beds. USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9.Sun Exposure: Full or partial sun.Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, and moist. To check if a plant is considered invasive in your area, go to the National Invasive Species Information Center or speak with your regional extension office or local gardening center.