At the Right Time in the Right Place - Planting Lilies

Lilies are wonderful companion plants in the garden bed. They look very elegant alongside roses and perennials. To ensure the blossoms open at the right time, you should plant lilies in spring.

Lilies captivate with a characteristic blossom and an intense fragrance. Over a hundred species with many cultivars are often planted as eye-catchers in perennial beds, at the edges of woody plants, or in pots. The exotic flowers can also hold their own in rock gardens or among wildflowers. With various lily species in your bed, you can achieve continuous blooming from May to September.

Even the ancient Greeks and Romans appreciated the lily in their gardens. This makes it one of the oldest garden plants cultivated to this day. Thanks to its elegant and strikingly beautiful blossom, it has lost none of its popularity. Despite their characteristic shape, lily blossoms are very versatile. Upright or sideways in clusters, panicles, or umbels – the flowers stand quite differently. Their form also comes in various variations, from cup- and bowl-shaped to bell, trumpet, or funnel shapes. Lilies are a true eye-catcher.

You can plant lilies either in autumn or spring. The months from September to March are considered the best planting time, as long as the ground isn't frozen. For the Madonna lily, it's a bit different: it should only be planted until the end of September. Check the purchased flower bulbs for rotten spots and injuries. They also shouldn't be too soft. You can sort out all diseased bulbs; the rest then go into a planting hole about 25 to 30 centimeters deep. At least, if you want to prevent issues: to avoid waterlogging, place an about 10-centimeter-thick drainage layer at the bottom of the hole, followed by a 5 to 10-centimeter-high loose soil mixture with compost. Plant the bulbs about 10 centimeters apart from each other. Finally, fill the hole with the soil mixture.

The large blossoms of the lily prefer sunny conditions. Nevertheless, in their native regions, they are often found in wooded and meadow areas. There, the lower part of the plant is protected. This part should indeed be shaded. In your garden, you can best achieve this through clever plant combinations, for example, with annual summer flowers or perennials. Whether it's meadow rue, geranium, or baby's breath: they perfectly complement the impressive blooms in harmony. If you don't want to obstruct the view, you can also protect the base of the plant from sun exposure with a mulch layer.

By the way, small lily varieties can easily be planted in containers. In this case, you primarily need to ensure adequate water drainage. In a container, two to three plants of smaller lily varieties look good when grouped together.