Lilium ‘Brasilia’ (Oriental Lily)

A charming exotic beauty, Lilium ‘Brasilia’ (Oriental Lily) is an upright bulbous perennial boasting large, star-shaped, outward-facing, white flowers with soft pink edges along their slightly ruffled petals. Blooming in mid to late summer, the blossoms are wonderfully scented, from the first blossom opening until when the last petal falls. This oriental lily is an excellent border plant, providing striking color and contrast to the perennial border, and mixes beautifully with annuals and other summer flowering bulbs. It is well suited to containers and the cutting garden as it makes excellent fresh-cut flowers.

• Grows up to 36-40 in. tall (90-100 cm) and 12 in. wide (30 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or part shade in well-drained soils, enriched with leaf mold or well-rotted organic matter. Best in sun with some shade at the base of the plant.
• A great choice for beds and borders, city gardens, cottage gardens, and containers. Excellent fresh-cut flowers. Plant in groups of 3, 6, or 12 bulbs for a striking display.
• Keep an eye out for lily beetle, aphids, slugs, vine weevil, and gray molds.
• Toxic to cats (though not for dogs or any known species).
• Deadhead the faded blooms. When flowering is over, cut back leaves and stems after they turn yellow.
• Propagate by offsets after the foliage dies down.
• Plant in fall or early spring in the garden. Potted plants may be planted at any time between spring and fall. Plant each bulb 6-8 in. deep (15-20 cm) and 12 in. apart (30 cm).
• This Lily is a member of the Oriental Hybrids Division (VII) which includes lilies with medium-sized to very large flowers, usually bowl-shaped, flat, or with recurved tepals. The inner tepals are often very broad, margins often ruffled or twisted and usually overlapping at the base, so the flower has a more ‘closed’ center. The Lily flowers are mostly white to pink to purplish red, some golden yellow and are usually fragrant. Leaves are scattered, usually broad to very broad. Often late flowering. There are 9 different types of lilies classified by the Royal Horticultural Society. And they are all real eye-catchers!