Lilium ‘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. Just look at it and you will understand why! 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 Lilium ‘Starfighter’ features larger flowers and shorter stems.

• Blooming for weeks in mid-late summer, this vigorous beauty constitutes an excellent border plant, providing striking color and contrast to the perennial border and mixing 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. Plant in groups of 3, 6, or 12 bulbs for a striking display!
• Growing up to 3 ft. tall (90 cm), this Lily performs best in full sun or part shade and is not fussy about soils, provided they are well-drained. Good moisture is required and dry soil should be avoided!
• Reliable, easy to grow, beloved by bees and butterflies
• Toxic to cats (though not for dogs or any known species)
• When flowering is over, cut back leaves and stems after they turn yellow. This plant may self-seed.
• Plant in fall or early spring in the garden. Potted plants may be planted at any time between spring and fall.
• 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!