Asiatic Lily Growth Tips, Care, and Types: Complete Guide

Due to its dwarf height and lower maintenance, the Asiatic lily is considered the best late-summer blooming flower. These plants are poisonous to some extent for pets such as cats and dogs and don’t possess any strong fragrance like other lilies. 

Asiatic Lilies are hybrid plants that originated in Japan and China, which is why their genus name is Asiatic. They are the result of cross-species between various lilies, due to which they bloom in distinct colors and form spots on petals. 

Here is a brief guide on how you can grow and maintain your Asiatic lily and make your balcony garden look more aesthetic. 

How to Plant Asiatic Lilies

To plant your Asiatic lily bulbs, you would require a few necessary gardening tools and a container. They grow around two to six feet, depending on the species. They bloom upward-facing flowers, each with distinct attributes.

Usually, it is suggested to plant Asiatic lilies during late summer, as the flower blooms during spring. To begin sowing your lilies, take a container with a 7 inch diameter and follow the steps below:

• Asiatic lilies are sold in bulbs; take the bulb and sow them in the soil with a pH value of 6.5. 

• Mix the fertilizer with the soil and make sure the flattened end of the bulb is placed below and the pointed end upwards. 

• Place the bulb below 6 inches from the pot and make sure there is around 10-inch space below the Asiatic lily bulb, allowing them to breathe.

• Keep the soil moist until a sprout comes out. That’s when you have to emphasize more on care routine. 

Growth and Care Guide for Asiatic Lily

The most crucial part for any Gardner is ensuring proper growth and care of plants. Just like any other plant, each seed requires different climatic conditions and nutrition that help them to grow.

The best part about Asiatic lilies is they can grow with moderate sunlight and don’t require any special attention. Here is a full guide on growth and care tips for Asiatic lilies.

Watering

Asiatic lilies require 1-2 inches of water per week, which is based on the pot where the flower is planted. During hot, humid weather, lilies draw more water but avoid filling up the pots because it may lead to fungal growth.

Moreover, make sure the container drainage system is working properly because the majority of growth issues occur from it.

Fertilizers and Pesticide

Many beginners get confused about which fertilizer or pesticide to use. That’s a no-brainer; just get a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer during the spring season when shoots come out. 

Additionally, mulching would also be beneficial for the growth; apply 2- inches of organic waste to insulate the roots. To take precautions against the bugs, just get a common bug-repellent spray.

Light

Asiatic lilies require moderate sunlight at least 6 hours a day for healthy growth. So being an outdoor plant, make sure it is placed under the sun but don’t let it get direct light under harsh, hot climatic conditions. 

Pruning

Pruning is a necessary element that ensures the healthy growth of plants and facilitates more growth. You can trim leaves as per your requirement and to cut down flowers, leave the one-third part just below the first pair of leaves. 

When the flower starts to decay, cut them out, leaving as much foliage as possible; this will help lilies to grow back. The blooming season begins from May to July, and they usually need a cold period to synthesize to bloom well. 

Repotting of Asiatic Lily

If you notice roots growing out of the drainage hole, it is a sign that your Asiatic lilies require immediate attention. 

The repotting procedure for Asiatic lilies is quite convenient as they are relatively short. The common 7-inch diameter would allow you to plant 2 Asiatic lily bulbs 2 inches apart. For repotting Asiatic lilies, gently pull them from an old pot and remove dead roots. 

Place them in a new large pot with a drainage hole and fill it with potting mix, ensuring the plant is placed 6 inches below the top.

Common Problems With Asiatic Lilies

Asiatic lilies are prone to being affected by pests such as aphids, leaf beetles, and slugs. You can use home remedies such as essential oils for plants that can help stave off such nuisances.

Moreover, some more common problems that you can encounter with Asiatic lilies are:

• When lilies bloom, they attract a lot of beetles, so look out for the eggs and crush them. Prepare a neem-based essential oil and spray them daily.

• Asiatic lilies are also prone to viruses and diseases; sadly, there is no cure for them. You must prune the affected areas, trash them away, and disinfect your tools. 

• If you are noticing leaves turning yellow, it means the plant is being overwatered. There might also be some issues with the drainage system as well; cutting the water supply for a while and letting the plant absorb water fully will resolve such issues.

• During humid weather, plants are prone to fungal diseases; common symptoms are leaves turning brown. Use copper-based fungicides and repot the plant in a better air-circulated container. 

• If you are facing issues related to the blooming of lilies, there is a lack of nutrition in the soil. Phosphorus is an essential element for the elegant blooming of flowers. Make sure soil has a rich phosphorus content and use 10-10-10 fertilizer when buds appear. 

Types of Asiatic Lilies

There are more than 30 Asiatic lily hybrids, ranging from different flowers, exotic colors, and leaves. Here is the list of some common Asiatic hybrids below: 

Name	Distinctive Feature
Tiny Rocket	The tiny rocket is bright red and originally grown in the Netherlands.
Annemarie’s Dream	The most aesthetic Asiatic lilly has a white tepal.
Tiny Ghost	As the name suggests, Tiny Ghost is a dwarf Asiatic lily that has burgundy color petals.
Navarin	Navarin has bright orange petals that bloom in summer and require full sun.
Enchantment	Orange-red with black spots, but also grows in different colors as well.
Strawberry Custard	Strawberry custard also known as strawberry and cream has a bold creamy pinkish color.
Red Electric	As the name suggests this Asiatic lily hybrid has lushy red-coloured petals with overgrown stamen.
Rosella’s Dream	Wide open flowers with ivory pinkish petal tips.
Tiger Babies	Tiger babies are a hybrid of Polyploid and Leslie Woodriff that are orange in color with black spots.
Eyeliner	The name eyeliner suits perfectly with this Asiatic lily. The petals border has a black outline that signifies eyeliner.
Night Flyer	Night Flyers are strong burgundy black and have curly backward petals.
Spring Pink	Light pink flowers with detailed foliage.
Cocktail Twins	Cocktail Twins have white petal tips that transform into pink.
Forever Susan	Dark burgundy that is highlighted with orange borders.
Cinnabar	The star-shaped flower that has an oxide red color with an orange petal base.
Whistler	Whistler has a burgundy center with pinkish-orange petals.
Purple Eye	Another star-shaped Asiatic lily that has a dark purple center with dark pink petals.
Cancun	Golden yellow flower with orange tip.
Red Twin	Red Asiatic lily that has an outer petal of orangish red with a deep burst of red in the center.
Arsenal	Arsenal is the name based on the popular football club. It has deep pink-colored petals with creamy marks.
Manniol	Manniol has curly petals with a cream petal base and deep pink petals with erected stamens.
Avventura	Avventura can grow up to 3 feet tall and blooms white-colored flowers.
Tartano	Oriental and trumpet hybrid that has a magnificent pink color with a bright yellow base.
Roselily Elena	Elena is among the few Asiatic Lilies that have sweet fragrances. The flower faces upwards and has hot red pinkish color with white groovy borders
Isabella	These lilies are pollen-free and have pink fluffed petals.
Flashpoint	Pinkish-red with bent petals that have creamy highlights on it.
Jura	Jura is a hybrid of Oriental and Trumpet lily that blossoms white lilies.
Profundo	Profundo is purple in color with dark, well-defined leaves.
Forza Red	Forza Red is a bright red Asiatic lily. That has strong color in the base and gets lighter as it goes towards the tip.
Must See	This Asiatic lily constantly changes its color throughout its growth. This phenomenon gives it the name Must See.
Café noir	Café noir is a bright red flower that has a white spot in the midsection.
Trebbiano	It has a tinted lime color with saturated green details on it.
Lily Allen	The boldest and sharpest Asiatic lily that is bright yellow in color with a black smudged spot on it.
Pearl Jessica	Pearl Jessica is probably the most common type of Asiatic lily that has curvy pinkish tips with a yellow base.
The Pirate	Also known as Daylily which is toxic to pets has a bright distinction. It has a dark crimson-red color that can easily be spotted in the garden.
Methone	Methones are usually red Asiatic lilies but are also grown in pink, white, yellow, and purple.
Bowmore	Another Oriental and Trumpet hybrid that has a silky pink color with white borders.
Maytime	Maytime is a tulip-based lily that blooms with reddish-purple flowers.
Lilium Black Out	Black-colored Asiatic lily that has a dark blood-red tone shaded in each petal.
Sweet Desire	This Asiatic lily has numerous dark spots that are highlighted with peach color.
Mandano	Mandano has a small green heart-shaped center and luscious silky pink petals.

Also Read: Here’s a list of 100+ Medicinal Plants Names and Pictures With Their Uses | Dive in to Cure Your Curiosity and Illness!

Final Words

Here is the wrap-up of the complete guide to Asiatic Lily. As they are one of the most elegant plant species that easily grab anyone’s attention, it is important to take utmost care. 

Moreover, considering the right amount of sunlight and water will help lilies bloom more elegantly. Even though they are the easiest to bloom compared to other genus species, by considering the tips above, you can increase the lifespan and health of plants.