Favourite Plants AtoZ: Oriental Lily

Native to China and Japan, the Oriental Lily is named for its scent and upturned flowers. There are many cultivars, and they are related to lily of the valley, asparagus, and the common day lily. The showy flowers can spread as wide as 10″ and the plant up to 2 feet. Oriental Lilies do best in well-drained soil, and the roots like to be cool, so mulch the base generously. Cut the late summer bloomers for a vase, but not more than one-third of the plant. Tolerant to part shade to full sun, the Oriental Lily reproduces bulblets, and can be divided when the base appears crowded. Otherwise, let the plant be, and enjoy!