Plant field guide
Lily (Asiatic)
Brightly colored, upward-facing flowers on sturdy stems. Earlier blooming and easier to grow than Oriental lilies. No fragrance but incredible color range.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Lilium asiaticum
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 18 in (46 cm) – 36 in (91 cm)
- Spread
- 8 in (20 cm) – 12 in (30 cm)
- Spacing
- 12 in (30 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–9; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: October.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Very easy to grow. Plant bulbs 4-6 inches deep. Multiply rapidly. More cold hardy than Oriental lilies. Lily beetle is the main pest.
Pruning
Cut stems to ground after foliage yellows in fall. Deadhead flowers but leave stems and foliage.
Fertilizer
Balanced (10-10-10)
Spring when shoots emerge
Mulch
2-3 inches of organic mulch.