Best Lilies For Pots and Containers
Lilies, Asiatic Lilies, Oriental Lilies
Growing Lilies in pots is easy and the good news is that there is a wide range of Lilies that can grace your patio with stunning colors and fragrance. However, choosing the right varieties may be daunting as there are thousands of them! Here is a list of the best lilies to grow in pots or containers. Keep them well watered in a sunny location and you will be rewarded with weeks of abundant blooms from early to late summer with some producing up to 15 flowers per stem!
Asiatic Hybrid Lilies
Highly popular, Asiatic hybrid Lilies are among the earliest to bloom in early-mid summer, and the easiest to grow. They offer a wide array of colors, from the softest pastels to fiery reds and oranges that practically ignite when the sun shines on them. They feature straight stems, high bud counts and generally brightly spotted blossoms and vary in shape from simple open bowls to flowers with exquisitely recurved petals. Asiatic Lilies enjoy a long blooming season (up to 1 month) but most of them are unscented.
Asiatic Hybrid Lilies
Dwarf Asiatic Hybrid Lilies - Pixie Series
Among the easiest lilies to grow and the earliest to bloom, dwarf Asiatic 'Pixie' Lilies feature large, brightly-colored, satin trumpet flowers delicately freckled in the throat, that can't be missed! Held on sturdy stems that do not require staking, their crimson, yellow, orange or pink enormous exotic blossoms are in full fanfare for weeks of color!
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My CollectionLilium 'Black Out' (Asiatic Lily)
Lilium 'Black Out' is a fascinating Asiatic Lily with large, dark carmine-red, upward-facing flowers with an even darker red-to-black shading in the center of each petal. One of the darkest red lilies, it produces clusters of 4-5 blossoms per stem which look fabulous when combined with yellow or creamy colors. An excellent border plant, it is well suited to containers and the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
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My CollectionLilium 'Black Spider' (Asiatic Lily)
Spice up your garden or patio with the spectacular blossoms of Lilium 'Black Spider'. They are so irresistible with their creamy-white flowers adorned with deep burgundy spots and black hearts. Black Spider is also quite abundant with up to 5-7 flowers per stem - a great floral show is guaranteed. This Lily constitutes an excellent border plant and is well suited to containers and the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
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My CollectionLilium 'Brunello' (Asiatic Lily)
Imagine abundant, huge, vivid orange blossoms with gracefully recurving tips rising elegantly above a glossy mid-green foliage. This vision is Lilium 'Brunello', a spectacular Asiatic Lily with bowl-shaped flowers that are upward-facing and reveal their dark red stamen. Prized for their ornamental qualities, they are quite large, up to 8 in. wide (20 cm), and abundant, with up to 12 flowers per stem - A great floral show guaranteed!
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My CollectionLilium 'Dot Com' (Asiatic Lily)
These spectacular blossoms belong to Lilium 'Dot Com'. Aren't they irresistible with their large, creamy-white to purplish-pink flowers adorned with burgundy spots at their heart? They are quite large, up to 8 in. wide (20 cm), and abundant, with up to 5-9 flowers per stem. This Lily constitutes an excellent border plant, providing striking color and contrast to the perennial border. It is also well suited to containers and the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
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My CollectionLilium 'Grand Cru' (Asiatic Lily)
Lilium 'Grand Cru' is a fascinating Asiatic Lily with showy, upward-facing, wide-open flowers with bright yellow petals contrasting with a burgundy heart. Amazingly decorative, this tremendous Lily won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society (2002). Easy to grow, it will add drama to your garden and brighten it up!
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My CollectionLilium 'King Pete' (Asiatic Lily)
Lilium 'King Pete' is a fascinating Asiatic Lily with showy, upward-facing, wide-open flowers with broad and bright yellow petals contrasting with a darker yellow heart and chocolate freckles. Wearing some of the brightest petals, this lily will spill out its charms in early-mid summer. Easy to grow, it won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society (2002).
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My CollectionLilium 'Tiny Todd' (Asiatic Lily)
Initially bred for container planting, Lilium 'Tiny Todd' is an early blooming, dwarf Asiatic Lily that is also well suited to the garden borders or even to the rock garden. Ravishing, large white flowers flushed pale pink, up to 7-9 flowers per bulb, are upward-facing and let you admire their inner beauty. Slightly fragrant, they contrast nicely with the glossy green foliage and do not require any staking. Mass them in the garden and expect a great floral show
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My CollectionOriental Hybrid Lilies
Known as the most flamboyant personalities within the world of lilies, they are characterized by their immense flowers, intense fragrance and rich colors. Exotic-looking, these Oriental hybrids are derived from species native to Japan. Blooming over a long period of time, from mid to late summer and even into fall for some varieties, their flowers are usually large and open, outward facing or pendant with striking patterns of spots. Most Oriental Lilies are in shades of white, pink and red, some with pretty yellow bands on their petals.
Oriental Hybrid Lilies
Lilium 'Casa Blanca' (Oriental Lily)
Bred for beauty, Oriental Lily 'Casa Blanca' features large, lovely, outward-facing, bowl-shaped, milky-white flowers with gracefully recurved petals and contrasting red-orange anthers. Heavily scented, this elegant Lily can produce up to 6-8 blossoms per stem and will steal your heart! Plant in groups of 3 bulbs throughout the perennial garden for a striking display! And don't forget to enjoy their fragrance on the patio when sitting outside on summer evenings!
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My CollectionLilium 'Entertainer' (Oriental Lily)
Sweetly fragrant, Lilium 'Entertainer' enjoys large, exotic-looking flowers that can't be missed! Its bright pink flowers, face the sky, revealing a lovely white heart. Borne on sturdy stems, the blossoms are abundant, up to 10 per stalk, guaranteeing a long-lasting display.
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My CollectionLilium 'Muscadet' (Oriental Lily)
An irresistible exotic beauty, Oriental Lily 'Muscadet' bears huge, outward-facing, white flowers adorned with a delicate pink stripe down the middle of each ruffled petal, rose-red speckles at the throat, and striking golden-red anthers. Intensely scented, from the first blossom opening until when the last petal falls! Plant in groups of 3 bulbs throughout the perennial garden for a striking display. And don't forget the patio where to enjoy its fragrance when sitting outside on summer evenings!
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My CollectionLilium 'Souvenir' (Oriental Lily)
Delightfully fragrant, lovely with its slightly recurved creamy petals flushed with a deep purplish pink, Lilium 'Souvenir' is a classic beauty. Just look at it! Its abundant and large, bowl-shaped flowers, up to 6 in. wide (15 cm), face up and out, revealing a golden throat and reddish-orange stamen that contrast nicely with the rich, dark green foliage. This vigorous beauty constitutes an excellent border plant and is also well suited to containers or the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
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My CollectionLilium 'Star Gazer' (Oriental Lily)
Heavily fragrant, and spectacular with its flamboyant, crimson-pink flowers adorned with dark spots and white edges, Lilium 'Star Gazer' (sometimes spelled 'Stargazer') is one of the most popular Oriental Lilies. Just look at it and you will understand why! Its abundant and large, bowl-shaped flowers, up to 8 per stalk, face the sky as they open, exuding an unforgettable fragrance. Borne on sturdy stems, they contrast nicely with the glossy, strap-like leaves and barely require any staking.
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My CollectionLilium 'Starfighter' (Oriental Lily)
Rich with a classic lily fragrance, Lilium 'Starfighter' is magnificent with its flamboyant, purplish-red flowers adorned with dark spots and white ruffled edges. Borne on sturdy stems, its large flowers, up to 7 in. wide (17 cm), face the sky as they open, exuding their exotic perfume. They are abundant, up to 8 per stalk, guaranteeing a long-lasting display. This Lily resembles its parent, Lilium 'Star Gazer', one of the most popular Oriental Lilies, but it features larger flowers and shorter stems.
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My CollectionLilium 'Starlight Express' (Oriental Lily)
Compact, delightfully fragrant, and eye-catching with its slightly recurved, flamboyant fuchsia petals, Lilium 'Starlight Express' grabs the attention of onlookers. Just look at it! Its abundant and large, bowl-shaped flowers, up to 15 per stalk, are beautifully adorned with ruffled white edges that contrast nicely with the rich, dark green foliage. Excellent border plant, providing striking color and contrast to the perennial border. Well suited to containers or the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.
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My CollectionLilium 'Tom Pouce' (Oriental Lily)
This Lily has huge and magnificent flowers that cannot be missed! Over 8 in. wide (21 cm), the soft, purplish-pink flowers of Lilium 'Tom Pouce' are adorned with brilliant yellow ribbing contrasting with the dark brown stamens. Irresistible! Borne on sturdy stems, the blossoms are abundant, up to 5-10 per stalk, guaranteeing a long-lasting display, and are delightfully fragrant.
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My CollectionLilies Growing Tips
- Lilies can be planted in pots at any time between fall and early spring. Fall is often preferred
- The pots must always be sufficiently deep. A pot depth of 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) is ideal.
- 1 large bulb (4-5 in. or 10-12 cm) should be planted into a 8-9 in. diameter container (20-23 cm).
- 3 or 4 smaller bulbs (2-3 in. or 5-8 cm) should be planted into a 9-10 in. diameter container (23-25 cm). Allow 2 in. (5 cm) between the bulbs.
- Plant the bulbs with the pointed tip facing upwards at a depth equal to the height of the bulbs (basal-rooting bulbs) or 2.5 times the height of the bulbs (stem-rooting bulbs)
- To make sure that the soil remains moist over time, it is advisable to use ordinary packaged potting soil as a substrate. Mixing this soil with 25% clay can be beneficial.
- Remember that the pots will have to be watered frequently and that providing fertilizer (house plant variety) once in a while is not an unnecessary frill.
- Provide sufficient drainage in the pot.
Guide Information
Plant Family | Lilium - Lilies |
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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Guide Information
Plant Family | Lilium - Lilies |
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