Lilies are among the most elegant and versatile flowers you can grow in a backyard garden. With their tall stems, trumpet-shaped blooms, and intoxicating fragrances, lilies bring timeless beauty and sophistication to outdoor spaces. From the classic pure white Madonna lily to bold Asiatic hybrids in every imaginable color, there’s a lily to suit every garden style and setting. Here’s a list of 8 top varieties of lilies to add color, grace, and charm to your backyard.
1. Asiatic Lilies
Asiatic Lilies are some of the most popular and easiest lilies to grow, prized for their early summer blooms and wide color range. These hardy lilies grow 2 to 4 feet tall and are available in bold shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. Unlike many other lilies, Asiatic varieties are unscented, making them perfect for gardeners sensitive to fragrance. They’re excellent for cut flowers and create a vibrant, colorful display in borders, mixed flower beds, or containers. Varieties like ‘Lollipop’ and ‘Netty’s Pride’ are especially eye-catching.
2. Oriental Lilies
Oriental Lilies are famous for their large, showy blooms and intense, sweet fragrance. Blooming in mid to late summer, these lilies grow 3 to 5 feet tall and feature broad, often ruffled petals in shades of white, pink, and crimson. Many have distinctive speckled centers and contrasting stripes, adding visual depth to the garden. Popular varieties include ‘Stargazer’ with its vibrant pink petals and ‘Casa Blanca,’ an elegant pure white lily. Oriental Lilies make stunning focal points in flower beds and long-lasting additions to cut flower arrangements.
3. Trumpet Lilies
As their name suggests, Trumpet Lilies produce long, trumpet-shaped blooms that fill gardens with a rich, heady fragrance. Blooming in mid-summer, these majestic plants can reach up to 6 feet tall, making them perfect for the back of flower beds. The flowers come in shades of white, yellow, pink, and peach and often display contrasting throats. Varieties like ‘Regale’ offer a classic white bloom with a golden-yellow center and a spicy scent. Trumpet Lilies are also known for their resilience and ability to naturalize over time.
4. Tiger Lilies
Tiger Lilies are easily recognizable by their bright orange petals covered in dark spots. These dramatic flowers bloom in late summer and grow 3 to 5 feet tall on strong, upright stems. Native to Asia, Tiger Lilies are extremely hardy and tolerant of a wide range of soil and climate conditions. Their blooms face slightly downward and often feature recurved petals. Beyond their striking appearance, Tiger Lilies are prized for their low-maintenance nature and ability to multiply quickly, making them perfect for filling out flower beds and naturalized areas.
5. Turk’s Cap Lilies
Turk’s Cap Lilies are distinctive for their backward-curving, reflexed petals that resemble a traditional Turkish cap. These dramatic blooms typically come in shades of orange, red, or yellow and are speckled with dark spots. Blooming in midsummer, Turk’s Cap Lilies can reach heights of 4 to 7 feet, producing up to 20 blooms per stem under ideal conditions. Varieties like ‘Citronella’ with lemon-yellow flowers are garden favorites. Their unusual shape and tall stature make them excellent conversation pieces in cottage or woodland-style gardens.
6. LA Hybrid Lilies
A relatively newer addition to the lily world, LA Hybrid Lilies are crosses between Longiflorum (Easter) lilies and Asiatic lilies. These hybrids combine the large, open-faced blooms of Easter lilies with the color variety and durability of Asiatic lilies. They grow to about 3 to 5 feet tall and bloom in a spectrum of colors, from pristine white and soft pink to bold red and sunny yellow. LA Hybrids have a light, pleasant fragrance and are excellent for cutting gardens, offering long-lasting blooms that brighten both indoor and outdoor spaces.
7. Martagon Lilies
Martagon Lilies are beloved for their graceful, nodding flowers and ability to thrive in partially shaded woodland gardens. These lilies bloom in early to midsummer and typically grow 3 to 6 feet tall, producing up to 50 small, reflexed blooms per stem. Their flowers come in hues of pink, purple, white, and orange, often with attractive freckles. Martagon Lilies are prized for their naturalizing habit and low-maintenance requirements, making them ideal for gardeners looking to create a lush, informal garden atmosphere.
8. Orienpet Lilies
Orienpet Lilies, often called “Tree Lilies,” are impressive hybrids of Oriental and Trumpet lilies. These spectacular plants can grow up to 8 feet tall and produce massive, highly fragrant blooms in midsummer. Their flowers combine the bold colors and fragrance of Oriental lilies with the durability and size of Trumpet lilies. Colors range from soft pastels to rich crimson and bright gold. Popular varieties like ‘Scheherazade’ and ‘Silk Road’ are perfect for creating dramatic vertical accents in garden beds and are excellent for cut flower displays.
Final Thoughts
Lilies offer an incredible variety of forms, colors, and fragrances to suit every backyard garden style. Whether you prefer the classic elegance of Oriental Lilies, the bold colors of Asiatic varieties, or the towering splendor of Orienpet hybrids, these eight lily types will fill your garden with beauty from early summer into fall. By mixing early, mid, and late-season bloomers, you can enjoy a continuous display of these timeless flowers for months on end.
Would you like a seasonal lily planting plan or a color-themed lily border guide too? I’d be glad to help craft one for your garden!