Types of Lilies: 18 Stunning Lily Species for Your Garden | Planet Natural (2024)

Lilies are loved for their stunning colors, and what’s best is that there are many types of lilies that all come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes! They fit into one of the nine various lily divisions set by the Royal Horticultural Society.

These divisions are based on similarities between the 115 accepted lily species in the botanical genus Lilium, such as flower aspect, form, growth habits, parentage, etc. There are many other countless hybrids created by crossing species as well that can add a stunning touch to your garden.

In this article, as a master gardener, I’ll share the top 18 types of lilies you should consider growing. I’ll cover what makes them special and why you should consider them for your garden.

Read on to learn all about the different types of lilies!

1. Asiatic Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium asiatica

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower Colors: Orange, white

Native Area: Asia

Exuding elegance and vivacity in every bloom, Asiatic lilies are a cultivar that brings the charm of Asia to gardens across Europe and the globe. Known for their vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, these plants are a testament to the exquisite beauty that nature has to offer.

What makes these plants special is their unique characteristics. The vibrant white and bright orange blooms, sometimes interspersed with different shades, fill the environs with a rich fragrance.

Even the buds hold a potent fragrance, waiting to release a heady scent upon blooming. Their hardiness and flexibility to thrive both in full sun and partial shade make them an excellent choice for any garden.

Every gardener should consider adding Asiatic lilies to their summer garden. The robust stalk supporting glossy leaves will add a touch of green to any landscape even before the late spring arrival of the blossoms.

In late summer, their robust bulbs thrust forward a plenitude of fresh stalks, ensuring that the elegance is never amiss. And the abundance of blossoms, laden with pollen in their anthers, makes them an excellent cut flower, adding a touch of freshness and vibrant hues to indoor bouquets.

The ability of these versatile flowers to thrive in well-drained soil adds to their appeal. Despite their elegance and the exotic touch they add to any garden, they bear a common name, reminding us that beauty can be found in the simplest of things.

2. Oriental Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium oriental

Hardiness Zone: 5-9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Summer to Early Fall

Flower Colors: Orange, White

Native Area: Asia, Europe

The Oriental Lily, known for its elegance and fragrance, is a cherished gem of any summer garden. Its trumpet-shaped flowers, often in shades of bright orange or white, bloom late in the season, creating a vibrant display from late summer through early fall.

What defines the Oriental Lily is the alluring fragrance of its blossoms. Gardeners and floral enthusiasts alike appreciate these fragrant flowers for their potent aroma and their quality as excellent cut flowers.

This lily offers an added layer of visual appeal through its foliage. Sturdy green stems adorned with dark leaves provide a beautiful contrast to the carefully crafted bouquets, especially when paired with the bright orange or white petals of the blooms.

Oriental Lilies are ideal for gardeners in search of a plant that can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. Provided with well-drained soil, these varieties or cultivars are known for their hardiness across USDA zones 5-9, offering a great opportunity for most gardeners.

Another enhancement for your garden can be derived from the August period; watching these lovely buds convert to fragrant blooms adds to the appeal of the late-summer garden!

Finally, Oriental Lilies are excellent cut flowers, perfect for creating classic and elegant bouquets. Whether you are new to gardening or a master gardener, the captivating beauty, extravagant fragrance, and relative hardiness of the Oriental Lily make it a must-add to your floral portfolio.

3. Tiger Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium lancifolium

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late summer (August)

Flower Colors: Bright orange with black spots

Native Area: Asia; naturalized in Europe

Tiger lilies, known by their botanical name, Lilium lancifolium, are vibrant bright orange blossoms that add a splash of color to any summer garden.

What makes the Tiger Lily stand out is its distinctive blossoms. Each bloom is adorned with black spots spread over a canvas of bright orange petals, adding an air of exotic elegance.

The flowers are large, upwards of 3 inches in diameter, and have a lovely fragrance that fills the air. These eye-catching trumpet-shaped flowers are held high on strong, thick stems, and each stalk can sport from 12 to 20 blossoms at a time.

Any gardener should consider growing Tiger Lilies not only for their beauty but also for their robust nature. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade and are ideal to be grown in well-drained soil. In terms of versatility, the blossoms make excellent cut flowers for bouquets due to their sturdy stem and long-lasting blooms.

With their beauty and easy maintenance, Tiger Lilies (despite their name) add a gentle wildness to a garden, a sight to behold from late spring through early summer.

4. Trumpet Lilies

Botanical Name: Aurelian lilies

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Spring – Early Summer

Flower Colors: Bright Orange, White

Native Area: Asia, Europe

Any gardener would appreciate the elegance and beauty that Trumpet lilies bring to a summer garden. These lilies are renowned for their large, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically in shades of bright orange or white, hence their common name.

Significantly, they bloom profusely between late spring and early summer, adding a burst of color at the onset of the warmer seasons.

Trumpet lilies are the crown jewel of the garden, particularly in full sun with well-drained soil, exhibiting their spectacular blossoms from late spring to early August. What makes these trumpet lilies special is the intoxicating fragrance they emit, especially during the twilight hours, filling the air with a heavenly aroma.

In addition, these lilies serve as excellent cut flowers for bouquets or arrangements, keeping their fragrance even after being cut. They have stout stalks holding up their blossoms, while their leaves form a lush backdrop.

Their buds slowly unfurl into fragrant blooms displaying a pollen-filled center with anthers. And so, Trumpet lilies bring a unique mix of aesthetics and sensory experience which any gardener looking for beauty and fragrance in their bloom should consider growing.

5. Easter Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium longiflorum

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Spring through Late Summer

Flower Colors: White

Native Area: Asia

As a master gardener, I’m always excited to share what I know about the elegance and beauty of the Lilium longiflorum, more commonly known by its common name, the Easter Lily.

This particular cultivar is heralded for its iconic trumpet-shaped flowers, which burst forth from leafy green stems in late spring and persist through late summer, gracing the summer garden with their captivating white blooms.

The Easter lily offers large, fragrant flowers that can fill a garden with a rich fragrance. It’s easy to see why these lilies are an excellent cut flower choice, perfect for bouquets and display arrangements that bring the outdoors inside. Each stem boasts several buds that transform into large white petals, the perfect canvas for the lily’s bright orange anthers laden with pollen.

From an aesthetic perspective, the Easter lily’s bright white flowers provide an attractive contrast to the foliage underneath, augmenting the overall charm of any garden.

The added benefit is their flexible growth preferences. With full sun to partial shade, and in well-drained soil, these bulbs will flourish into blossoms of pure white elegance.

All in all, adding Easter Lilies to your garden offers a touch of timeless sophistication, not to mention, their fragrance will keep your garden smelling lovely all through August.

6. Madonna Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium candidum

Hardiness Zone: 6 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Colors: White

Native Area: Asia and Europe

The Madonna Lily is an ancient flower with a fragrance that evokes elegance and refinement. Its botanical name, Lilium candidum, is derived from its stunning white blooms that boast an exceptional purity.

What makes the Madonna Lily special is its unsurpassed beauty and long history of cultivation. It blossoms in late spring, displaying a profusion of trumpet-shaped flowers with a pleasing fragrance. The white petals highlight their bright orange anthers, a striking contrast that draws in the eyes—and the pollen related bees.

This Lily cultivar is a great choice for any gardener who loves fragrant flowers that add a touch of class. It is an excellent cut flower, perfect for sophisticated bouquets because of its notable stalk and foliage.

It thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers a well-drained soil. Its hardiness allows it to bloom every year, from late spring to early summer, transforming your summer garden into a fragrant oasis. It’s a symbol of elegance and a testament to the magic that a single stem can bring.

Interestingly, despite the native areas like Asia and Europe, this species can brighten late summer in your garden. Make sure you give it the spotlight it deserves amid the vibrant shades of August, and rest assured, the Madonna Lily never fails to impress.

Its beauty and hardiness make it a favorite amongst bulb growing enthusiasts. Invest time in nurturing the buds and watch the garden bloom with their charm.

7. Leopard Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium pardalinum

Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower Colors: Bright Orange with Dark Spots

Native Area: Western North America, Asia

Commonly known by its common name, the Leopard Lily, Lilium pardalinum is a late spring to early summer bloomer that adds a touch of wild elegance to any garden.

Distinguished by their bright orange trumpet-shaped flowers speckled with dark spots, not unlike the coat of the big cat they are named after, these lilies are adapted to a wide range of hardiness zones. The bulbs of the Leopard Lily require well-drained soil and thrive in a mix of full sun and partial shade.

What makes Leopard Lilies special is their versatility and adaptability. Capable of thriving in a diverse range of climates across North America and parts of Asia and Europe, they make excellent cut flowers and form the centerpiece of bouquets with their showy blooms.

Their long, strong stalks support clusters of fragrant blooms that emit a pleasant fragrance, making them a desirable choice for many gardeners.

Not only is their bloom a feast for the eyes, they also produce abundant pollen, ensuring that they attract and nourish a range of beneficial insects. In late summer, the fading blossoms give way to a show of bright green foliage, serving as a canvas for the next round of plants in your summer garden.

Every gardener should consider growing this beautiful perennial for its hardiness, beauty and the touch of wild charm it can bring to your space.

8. Martagon lilies (Turk’s Cap Lilies)

Botanical Name: Lilium martagon

Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Colors: Bright orange and white petals, but cultivars may have other shades as well.

Native Area: Asia and Europe.

The Martagon lily, widely known by the common name ‘Turk’s cap lily’, brings a unique elegance to any summer garden. Its characteristic feature is the array of fragrant blooms it produces which are often trumpet-shaped flowers.

Blooming from late spring into the early days of summer, their blossoms unfurl into an array of bright orange or white petals that spread out in a whorl around the stalk.

What makes these flowers stand out are their hardiness and adaptability. They can thrive in full sun or partial shade, and are quite resilient compared to other lily types. This hardiness extends to the durability of their bulbs, which can survive cold winters quite comfortably, provided they’re planted in well-drained soil.

The allure of Martagon lilies extends beyond their vibrant blooms. Their fragrant flowers emit a pleasing fragrance that can perfume an entire garden, drawing in pollinators with their richly laden anthers full of pollen. As a bonus, these fragrant blossoms make excellent cut flowers, adding elegance to any bouquet.

Any gardener seeking a versatile, reliable addition to their garden should undoubtedly consider the Martagon lily, not just for its beauty but for its resilience and adaptability as well.

9. Michigan Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium michiganense

Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower Colors: Orange with White Petals

Native Area: North America, Asia, Europe

There is an elegance that Michigan Lilies bring to any summer garden. Easy to cultivate and rewarding to grow, these lilies are cherished for their vibrant, bright orange, trumpet-shaped flowers, often accentuated with white petals.

What makes Michigan Lilies special are their large, fragrant blooms that not only enhance the visual appeal of your garden but also add a delightful fragrance. Each stalk boasts several buds that unfurl to present a bouquet-like display. The bloom time of these beauties falls between late spring and early summer, adding a burst of color just when you need it.

Every gardener should consider growing Michigan Lilies for their hardiness across most USDA zones, their excellence as cut flowers, and their suitability to full sun or partial shade.

When grown in well-drained soil, their foliage stays robust throughout the growing season. Their captivating appearance also works well in various shades of garden themes. Not to mention, these flowers are a charming addition to bouquets and arrangements.

For seasoned professionals or gardening beginners, the Michigan Lily is an asset to any green space.

10. Wood Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium philadelphicum

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Spring to early Summer

Flower Colors: Bright Orange with white petals

Native Area: North America, from the east regions of Asia to Europe

Wood Lilies, also known by their botanical name Lilium philadelphicum, are a splendor expression of Nature’s elegance.

These lilies bloom in late spring to early summer, bringing forth clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, igniting any garden with their showy bright orange colors fused with delicate white petals. They are native to a large part of North America, stretching from the eastern realms of Asia to Europe.

What makes Wood Lilies special is their rich coterie of fragrant blooms under full sun to partial shade. Their fragrance adds a heavenly touch to the summer garden, echoing their hardiness from Zone 4 to 8. The blossoms are designed by Nature to be excellent cut flowers, meaning the fragrance and beauty can be brought inside to lighten up any room. These flowers are a fantastic addition to your late summer bouquets.

Any gardener should consider growing these lilies due to their low-maintenance needs. They thrive in well-drained soil and their foliage leaves are a spectacular sight. The beauty and elegance of Wood Lilies, not to mention its fragrant blooms, serves to uplift any gardener’s spirit and brighten their summer garden.

11. Canada Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium canadense

Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Colors: Bright orange to yellow

Native Area: North America

The Canada Lily, commonly known as Wild Yellow Lily, is one of the most elegant and hardy perennials native to North America. Its bright orange to yellow blossoms start to bloom from late spring to early summer, adding a dash of vibrant color and elegance to any summer garden.

What makes the Canada Lily special is its tall, sturdy stalk and the striking contrast of its dazzling orange blooms against its dark green foliage.

This lily variety produces fragrant flowers that are often teeming with pollen and have a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. The trumpet-shaped flowers have delicate white petals, adorned with specks of bright orange, lending the plant an ethereal beauty.

Any gardener should consider adding this beauty to their garden, not only for its visual appeal, but also for its versatility. As one of the hardier cultivars, the Canada Lily can thrive in both full sun and partial shade conditions as long as they are planted in well-drained soil. Besides, they make excellent cut flowers, perfect for fresh bouquets.

These charming lilies will undoubtedly make your garden a sight to behold from late spring to august, and their fragrant blooms will fill your summer evenings with an intriguing, sweet fragrance.

12. Orienpet Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium Hybrids

Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late Summer to Early August

Flower Colors: White, Orange

Native Area: Hybrid, Cultivated in Asia and Europe

The Orienpet Lily, a captivating cultivar, hails from selective hybridization processes in both Asia and Europe. They are a cross between Oriental hybrids and trumpet lilies. This plant is renowned for its striking trumpet-shaped flowers, which fill any summer garden with an intoxicating fragrance.

Each stem thunders to life with bright orange, white petals or shades in between. Your garden will radiate elegance when these lilies are in full bloom during the late summer months.

What sets Orienpet Lilies apart is the size and hardiness of their fragrant flowers, passionate in both red and white blooms, or orange, depending on the cultivar. This cultivar is known for its unique blend of Oriental and Trumpet lilies, hence the common name, Orienpet.

Their hardiness permits them to flourish in the full sun and cope in partial shade but they prefer well-drained soil to avoid waterlogged roots. These excellent cut flowers make it a feast for the eye, turning your late spring and early summer garden into a riot of colors, and the cut flowers are perfect for bouquets.

Therefore, their eye-catching blooms, luxurious fragrance, and robust nature make growing Orienpet Lilies a rewarding experience for any gardener.

13. LA Hybrid Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Colors: White, orange and different shades in between

Native Area: Asia and Europe

LA Hybrids, also known as Longiflorum Asiatic Hybrids, the perfect blend of elegance and hardiness, have been a common name in the glorious world of gardening for many years.

These lilies possess a bountiful array of bright orange and crisp white petals that form the aesthetic part of its trumpet-shaped flower, radiating beauty in every summer garden.

These cultivars have been hailed for their hardiness and adaptability, performing exceptionally well in locations featuring full sun to partial shade. The blossoms, an enchanting mix of Asian delicacy and European robustness, bloom in late spring to early summer, adding a graceful touch to your garden. D

uring their vigorous flowering period, the buds unfurl to reveal their elegant white blooms, which carry a light, soothing fragrance.

The sturdy stem and thick robust foliage characterized by elegance complement the fragrant blooms, making them stunning cut flowers that stand out in any bouquet. The LA Hybrid Lilies are also attractive to pollinators with their copious pollen presented charmingly on prominent anthers.

What makes these lilies special is their ability to thrive in well-drained soil, offering gardeners an easy-to-grow plant that infuses their surroundings with a breathtaking display of blossoms all summer long.

Undoubtedly, the LA Hybrid Lilies deserve a place in every garden aiming to add a splash of color and life, promising a breathtaking display of fragrant flowers from late spring until late summer.

14. Golden Rayed Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium auratum

Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Colors: Bright orange and white

Native Area: Asia

Golden Rayed Lilies, with their striking bright orange and white blooms, truly live up to their botanical name, Lilium auratum, which means the ‘golden flower’. Native to Asia, these lilies have been esteemed for their brilliance and elegance in both their native lands and in gardens across Europe and America.

What makes the Golden Rayed Lilies special is their unique trumpet-shaped flowers with white petals, often tinged with shades of brilliant orange. The large white flowers generate a delightful fragrance, transforming your summer garden into a sensory delight.

Any gardener should consider incorporating Golden Rayed Lilies into their setup. Not only are they excellent cut flowers for bouquets—but thanks to their hardiness, they may thrive in various conditions. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

Their fragrant blooms appear in late spring to early summer, offering elegant blossoms for your garden. Plus, their bright color adds a compelling contrast to other foliage and blossoms, making them a standout in any bouquet.

15. Carpet Border Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium ‘Carpet Border’

Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring, early summer

Flower Colors: Bright orange, white

Native Area: Cultivars from a mixture of Asia and Europe

The Carpet Border lilies are a revered member of the lily family, renowned for their splendid elegance and hardiness. They are remarkable lilies that brighten up any summer garden with their trumpet-shaped flowers, blossoms in bright orange, and white petals.

What makes it special is its vibrant fusion of bright orange and white blooms that provide a delightful visual contrast. The flowers in full sun are not only strikingly beautiful but they also release a rich fragrance, adding another sensory delight to your garden.

Every gardener should consider growing Carpet Border lilies because of their hardiness and adaptability. They can grow in full sun or in partial shade, and they only require well-drained soil to thrive – making them quite easy to care for.

Their blossoms not only make an excellent cut flower for bouquets, but also attract pollinators, adding a layer of environmental synergy to your garden. Their generous bloom time extends from late spring into the early summer, sometimes even till August, ensuring your garden is filled with fragrant flowers and vibrant shades for a significant part of the year.

Moreover, Carpet Border lilies have a compact stem or stalk structure, making them suitable for borders and because they grow from bulbs, they have the ability to return with renewed vigor year after year. With a combination of all these valuable traits, the Carpet Border lilies are truly an asset to any garden.

16. American Hybrid Lilies

Botanical Name: LxA Hydrid Lily “American Native”

Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: late spring to late summer

Flower Colors: orange, white petals

Native Area: Asia, Europe

The opulence of American Hybrid Lilies, with their trumpet-shaped flowers and striking shades of bright orange and white petals, adds a touch of elegance to every garden.

This cultivar, a crossbreed of multiple Asian and European species, now commonly found in most regions of the globe, bursts into bloom from late spring to late summer.

American Hybrid Lilies are cherished for their extensive bloom time. Fragrant flowers fill the air with a bewitching fragrance, turning any garden into a paradise. The lily’s tall stalk hosts large blossoms, accentuated with a shower of pollen from its prominent anthers.

These lilies are perfect for the summer garden with their vibrant hues; they ideally prefer full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. Planted in a well-drained soil, they thrive, developing robust bulbs that give birth to sturdy stems, lush foliage, and burgeoning buds.

American Hybrid Lilies are excellent cut flowers and add charm to any bouquet, thanks to the hardiness of their stem. For any gardener looking to add a timeless charm to their garden, or to create spectacular bouquets, these lilies with their fragrant blooms are the ideal choice.

17. Henry’s Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium henryi

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late summer, August

Flower Colors: Bright orange, anthers

Native Area: Asia

Henry’s lilies, known by the botanical name ‘Lilium henryi‘, are striking, trumpet-shaped flowers that typically grace gardens from late summer into August, adding elegance and vibrant color to any setting. They boast bright orange blossoms with prominent anthers laden with pollen, associated with their native area of Asia.

What makes Henry’s lilies truly special is their hardiness, surviving comfortably in USDA zones 4 to 8. Their stems support clusters of these fragrant blooms, while the foliage of sturdy leaves offers an attractive green backdrop. When in full sun and well-drained soil, these flowers can reach their full potential, although they can tolerate partial shade.

Any gardener should consider growing these lilies not only for their color and beauty, but also for their versatility. Their fragrance is calming, and the blossoms serve as excellent cut flowers for bouquets.

These lilies are perfect for adding brilliance to a summer garden, and their late bloom time ensures gardeners can enjoy their beauty and fragrance when most of the common cultivars have finished blooming.

The bulbs of Henry’s lilies have proven irreplaceable in both the spectacle and scent they offer. In a nutshell, the vibrant orange petals, prolific late summer blooms, and the contrasting white flowers of other species, provide a depth of color and variety to any garden landscape.

Their hardiness and ability to flourish in a variety of conditions is a surefire way to enjoy the exquisite charm Henry’s Lilies offer. Their formal name may not be as common, but the mesmerizing elegance they add to any garden setting justifies their place in the world of horticulture.

18. Washington Lilies

Botanical Name: Lilium washingtonianum

Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9 (USDA)

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Colors: White

Native Area: Western North America

Washington Lilies, with their elegant and graceful trumpet-shaped flowers, are a beautiful addition to any summer garden.

This prized plant, recognized by its botanical name as Lilium washingtonianum, elegantly dons white blooms. From late spring to early summer, its buds open to reveal the white petals, which are enhanced by specks of bright orange at the center, located in the anthers filled with pollen.

What makes this elegant species special is its efficiency as an excellent cut flower. The white flowers bloom atop sturdy stalks and stems, highly suitable for bouquets. Their fragrance adds an extra layer of elegance, turning any common garden into a fragrant haven.

Any gardener, novice or expert, should consider adding Washington Lilies to their planting list. What’s more, these bulbs show tremendous hardiness, capable of thriving in full sun to partial shade. They prefer well-drained soil, making them easy to maintain.

The foliage, while aesthetic in its own right, also serves as a pleasant contrast to the white petals. Despite its native area being Western North America, cultivars of the plant have found success in gardens across Europe and Asia.

The Washington Lily brings a certain elegance to any garden and blooms for a long time, from late spring well into August. Its fragrant flowers make it a must-have addition to your summer garden.

Other Lily Guides from Planet Natural:

How to Grow and Care for Peace Lily Plants – Complete Guide

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Callas Lilies – Complete Guide