Lilies are prized by home gardeners for their dramatic flowers and long, sturdy stems. Asiatic Lilies (Lilium asiatica) and Oriental Lilies (Lilium orientalis) are common types of lilies grown both commercially and in home gardens. Each, however, has its own appeal and growing needs, which may make one more ideal than the other for your landscape.
Asiatic Lily Identification
Asiatic Lily cultivars are classified as Division I Lilies, which grow 1 to 5 feet (30 cm to 1.5 m) tall and produce deep red, orange, rose, bright yellow, peach, cream or white flowers. Each bloom is typically 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in diameter and petals are often streaked or spotted with another color.
Asiatic Lilies are further separated into 3 subdivisions based on flower appearance. Subdivision IA Lilies bloom in June. Their flowers are upright and borne singly or in umbels, which are clusters of stems on a single main branch. Lilies in subdivision IB produce outward-facing flowers in June. These flowers are often streaked with purple. Subdivision IC Asiatic Lilies have flowers that are borne pendant, or facing downward, in early July.
Oriental Lilies are classified as Division VII Lilies, which grow vigorously and reach heights of 2 to 6 feet (60 cm to 1.8 m) tall. They bloom from July through August, with flowers that are 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) in diameter. Oriental Lilies may be pure white, crimson, or white splotched with red or pink, and they are divided into 4 subdivisions based on their flower appearance.
Subdivision VIIA Lilies produce trumpet-shaped flowers, while subdivision VIIB Lilies produce bowl-shaped flowers. Subdivision VIIC Lilies produce recurved blooms, which means the petals curve outward instead of cupping inward, while lilies in subdivision VIID produce clusters of 12 to 30 flowers that have recurved petals but flat faces.
Care
Asiatic Lilies require moist, well-drained soil rich in organic material. They prefer full sun locations, but they are otherwise easy to grow because they aren’t fussy about soil conditions. Oriental Lilies also like well-drained, fertile soil, but they require acidic conditions to thrive.
Asiatic Lilies must be deadheaded as the flowers fade. Stems die back naturally in the fall, but groupings must be divided every 3 to 4 years. An application of mulch for both types of lily before winter keeps the roots cool and moist. Oriental Lilies tend to grow tall stems that require staking to prevent the plants from toppling over or bending. Asiatic Lilies are shorter and sturdier, so they seldom require staking.
Hardiness
Oriental and Asiatic Lilies vary in hardiness, ranging between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 and 10, depending on the species and cultivar. Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ is an Oriental Lily often used in bouquets because of its large, pure white flowers and heady fragrance. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9.
Lilium ‘Star Gazer’ is a breathtaking Oriental Lily that is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. This lily features bright crimson flowers spotted with purple. Lilium ‘Matrix’ is an Asiatic Lily that is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. Its coral-to-orange flowers are highlighted with a streak of yellow in the center of each petal.
Lilium ‘Tango Passion Crossover’ is a visually stunning Asiatic Lily that is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. This lily produces pure white flowers with burgundy-speckled centers. Lilium ‘Tiny Athlete’ is Asiatic Lily that thrives in USDA zones 3 through 8 and has delicate, upward facing pink flowers with sturdy, compact stems that lend themselves well to cut flower arrangements.
Source: sfgate.com
