Types of lilies: overview of the most popular lily varieties

Lilies are one of the best-known ornamental plants. In this article, we list some of the most popular lily species as well as which lilies are hardy.

Lilies (Lilium) are amongst the oldest cultivated ornamental plants — and it’s not really a secret why. Just a quick glance at their large, elegant flowers makes it clear why lilies have aroused the interest of flower enthusiasts for so long. There are also over 2,000 different types of lilies to choose from, so it is no wonder there are also multiple categories within which to classify them. Intensive cross-breeding has also resulted in a plethora of lily varieties in all sorts of colours and shapes. And varieties not only differ in appearance, but in location requirements and hardiness too. Keep reading for an extensive list of lily varieties — you’ll no doubt find the perfect lily for your garden or balcony.

The 10 most beautiful lily species and varieties

With such a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes to choose from, there’s a garden lily for everyone. Oriental and Asiatic hybrids produce large, bright, colourful flowers that you will not be able to take your eyes off. Here’s an overview of a few gorgeous lily species, varieties and hybrids:

1. Oriental hybrids

Oriental lily varieties are known for their intense fragrance. Their flower petals grow horizontally from the flower stems, and they are popular as cut flowers in arrangements and bouquets.

• ‘Casa Blanca’: white flowers with striking red stamens; over 1m tall; sunny to semi-shady location; hardy and suitable for growing in pots; flowering time: August – September
• ‘Muscadet’: white flowers with pink speckles and slightly ruffled petals; up to 1m tall; hardy to -15 °C; semi-shady location; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Stargazer’: speckled pink flowers with white edges; height up to 1m; suitable for growing in pots; semi-shady location; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Tiger Woods’: white flowers with light maroon midribs and speckles; over 1m tall; sunny location; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Roselily Carolina’: double-petalled white flowers with yellow midribs; height up to 1m; sunny location; suitable for growing in pots; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Big Brother’: extra-large white or yellow flowers; about 90cm tall; full-sun and dry locations; flowering time: August – September
• ‘Gold Band’: white flowers with yellow midribs and orange speckles; height about 90cm; full sun and dry locations; flowering time: August – September

• ‘Blushing Girl’: white or light pink double flowers with yellow midribs; about 80cm tall; full sun and dry locations
• ‘Exotic Sun’: bright yellow double flowers with slightly ruffled edges; about 1m tall; semi-shady to shady location
• ‘Montego Bay’: orange-yellow flowers with red midribs; over 1m tall, partially shady location; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Extravaganza’: white flowers with pink speckles; about 90cm tall; full sun and dry locations; flowering time: August – September
• ‘Dizzy’: white flowers with pink midribs and speckles; over 1m tall; sunny to semi-shady location
• ‘Pimento’: white, pink or purple flowers with slightly ruffled edges; up to 75cm tall; hardy to -15 °C; semi-shady location; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Josephine’: pastel pink flowers with white midribs; hardy down to -15 °C; semi-shady location; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Magic Star’: white double flowers with pink midribs; over 1m tall; sunny to semi-shady location

2. Asiatic hybrids

Asiatic lilies and their hybrids can be star-shaped and upward facing, star-shaped and outward facing or downward facing with petals that curve backwards. The double-petaled varieties are truly stunning and a wonderful alternative for those of us with pollen allergies. These hybrids are typically easy to care for, and their main flowering time is July.

• ‘Purple Eye’: dark purple star-shaped flowers with pink tips; up to 1m tall; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Orange’: bright orange star-shaped flowers; full sun and dry locations; flowering time: July
• ‘Strawberry and Cream’: light pink star-shaped flowers with burgundy centres; flowering time: July
• ‘Whistler’: salmon-coloured star-shaped flowers with burgundy centres; full sun and dry locations; flowering time: July
• ‘Cinnabar’: orange-red star-shaped flowers with brown speckles; up to 80cm tall
• ‘Tiny Ghost’: numerous crimson star-shaped flowers; about 35cm tall; flowering time: July
• ‘Enchantment’: orange star-or cup-shaped flowers with black speckles; about 1m tall; flowering time: June
• ‘Fire King’: red to orange flowers that grow facing outwards; over 1m tall
• ‘Nutmegger’: downward-facing lemon yellow flowers with brown speckles; over 1m tall; flowering time: July
• ‘Annemarie’s Dream’: white double flowers; up to 1m tall; sunny location; flowering time: May – August

• ‘Night Flyer’: dark purple flowers with petals that curl backwards; about 1m tall; sunny location; flowering time: May – August
• ‘Luxor’: corn-yellow flowers with light-orange centres and dark speckles, up to 1m tall; sunny to semi-shady location; flowering time: May – August
• ‘Linda’: reminiscent of a sunrise, bright red flowers with yellow centres; up to 1m tall; sunny location; flowering time: May – August
• ‘Forever Susan’: dark burgundy flowers with orange tips; height up to 1m; sunny location; hardy; flowering time: May – August
• ‘Spring Pink’: light pink double flowers; up to 1m tall; hardy; flowering time: May – August
• ‘Cancun’: honey-yellow flowers with orange or red tips; up to 1m tall; sunny location; hardy; flowering time: June – August
• ‘Rosellas’s Dream’: champagne-coloured flowers with pink tips; semi-shady to sunny location; flowering time: June – August
• ‘Cocktail Twins’: orange and red double flowers with yellow accents; up to 90cm tall; sunny location; flowering time: May – August
• ‘Red Electric’: fragrant red flowers with pink edges; over 1m in height; sunny to semi-shady location; flowering time: June – August
• ‘Little Kiss’: numerous peach-coloured flowers with pink edges; up to 1m in height

3. Tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium)

This Asian lily species is hardy and undemanding in regard to location. Tiger lily plants rarely grow higher than a metre. They thrive in full sun, partial shade and even full shade. These lilies typically flower from June to August and are best known for their brightly-coloured and highly-speckled flowers.

• ‘FlorePleno’: orange double flowers covered with brown speckles; over 1m tall; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Splendens’: orange to peach-coloured flowers with brown speckles; flowering time: July – September
• ‘Pink Flavour’: flamingo-pink flowers with golden-yellow centres and dark speckles; flowering time: July – September
• ‘Salmon Tiger’: white and salmon-coloured flowers with speckles
• ‘Tiger White’: white flowers with brown speckles
• ‘Double Sensation’: berry-red double flowers with white centres

4. Turk’s cap lily (Lilium martagon)

Turk’s cap lilies, also called martagon lilies, have small flowers that hang downwards and are known for their curled back petals that are reminiscent of a turban. The plants grow up to 2m tall and bloom from June to August. Their lovely scent envelopes the whole garden especially in the evening hours. Turk’s cap lilies are a lovely addition to rock gardens.

• ‘Album’: pure white flowers
• ‘Pink Morning’: light pink flowers with purple speckles; sunny to semi-shady location
• ‘Orange Jam’: orange flowers with narrow petals; sunny to semi-shady location
• ‘Maroon King’: maroon flowers with orange speckles and edges; sunny to semi-shady location
• ‘Guinea Gold’: yellow flowers with red speckles and white midribs; sunny to semi-shady location
• ‘Manitoba Morning’: pink flowers with brown and yellow speckles; sunny to semi-shady location
• ‘Terrace City’: yellow flowers with orange speckles and light-pink sepals
• ‘Peppard Gold’: yellow and orange flowers with dark speckles

5. Regal lily (Lilium regale)

Regal lilies, also called royal lilies or king’s lilies, usually begin flowering in mid-June. In the wild they are white, but crossbreeding has introduced many new colours to this lily species. The trumpet-shaped flowers grow outward from the stalk and have slightly curved petals. These lilies can grow up to 1.5m tall.

• ‘African Queen’: orange flowers with purple sepals
• ‘Golden Splendour’: large yellow flowers with red sepals
• ‘Lady Alice’: white or yellow flowers with orange centres and speckles
• ‘Pink Perfection’: purple or pink flowers
• ‘Regular Album’: white flowers with yellow centres
• ‘Casa Rosa’: light pink flowers with darker centres
• ‘White Heaven’: white flowers with slightly yellow or green centres
• ‘Lankon’: white flowers with purple speckles
• ‘Triumphator’: white flowers with dark-pink centres
• ‘Royal Gold’: bright yellow flowers with purple sepals

6. Fire lily (Lilium bulbiferum)

In addition to the common name fire lily, this European species is also called orange lily, St. John’s lily and Jimmy’s Bane. The flowers are typically orange and/or red with brown speckles and stand upright in umbels, appearing between May and July. Unlike most of the other lily species, fire lilies form secondary bulbs in their leaf axils.

7. Madonna lily (Lilium candidum)

The fragrant flowers of the Madonna lily are pure white when growing in the wild. The plants reach up to 1m tall and are hardy. This species blooms from May to September and are the embodiment of elegant lilies. In Catholicism, these lilies symbolise chastity.

8. Goldband lily (Lilium auratum)

Goldband lilies, also called golden-rayed lilies, are native to Japan and grow up to 2.5m tall. As wild lilies, they have large white flowers with yellow midribs and red or brown speckles. They flower from August to September and are quite fragrant. This species has a relatively short life span of 3 to 4 years.

9. Showy lily (Lilium speciosum)

This species has small flowers with petals that curve backwards. These lilies prefer a nice sunny location, and they bloom from August to September.

• ‘Rubrum’: pink flowers with dark pink speckles and light pink edges
• ‘Album’: white flowers with red anthers
• ‘Uchida’: light pink flowers with dark pink midribs and speckles

10. Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum)

Last but not least is the Easter lily. These plants grow to about 1m tall and bloom from May to June. The strongly scented flowers are trumpet-shaped and face outward. Apart from a touch of green at the base of the sepals, the flowers are known for being completely white. Easter lilies grow best in calcareous soils.

• ‘Nellie White’: white flowers with light yellow centres
• ‘Deliana’: light yellow flowers
• ‘Elegant Lady’: light pink flowers
• ‘Triumphator’: white flowers with dark pink centres
• ‘White Elegance’: numerous white flowers

How beautiful your lilies are not only depends on the species, but also on proper care. Learn everything you need to know about lilies here.

Hardy lilies

Though often associated with the tropics and subtropics, many lily species are native to temperate regions and tolerate harsh winters. Just remember, when overwintering lilies in the garden, their bulbs still need winter protection, especially those kept in pots. Although the crown of the plant dies off in autumn, a new crown will sprout from that same bulb the following spring. Most lilies that are advertised as hardy are Asiatic lily hybrids. They usually grow to 1m tall and form several star-shaped flowers from June to July. Most hardy lilies prefer a sunny to semi-shady location with fresh, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. Here are a few particularly robust varieties:

• ‘Monte Negro’: early blooming variety with dark red or orange flowers
• ‘Netty’s Pride’: dark maroon flowers with white tips
• ‘Grand Cru’: bright yellow flowers with dark orange centres
• ‘Mapira’: dark maroon flowers
• ‘Yellow County’: bright yellow flowers
• ‘Kushi Maya’: white flowers with wine-red centres
• ‘Forever Susan’: dark purple flowers with orange tips and edges
• ‘Spring Pink’: light pink flowers
• ‘Cancun’: yellow flowers with orange-red tips and edges

It is not just the Asiatic lilies that are winter hardy. The following lilies can also survive the cold months in the garden provided they have winter protection:

Tree lily: these are large fragrant hybrids that bloom between June and August. They grow up to 2.5m tall and thrive in a sheltered sunny location with permeable, nutrient- and humus-rich soil. Some popular varieties include ‘Anastasia’ with pink flowers, ‘Honeymoon’ with butter yellow flowers, ‘Lavon’ with yellow flowers and red centres, ‘On Stage’ with medium pink flowers and yellow centres and ‘Boogie Woogie’ with honey-yellow flowers and salmon-coloured edges.

Panther lily (Lilium pardalinum): the flowers of this American variety are yellow, orange and red with brown speckles. They bloom in August. Like the Turk’s cap lily, the petals of a panther lily curve backwards. This species can reach over 2m tall and prefers a location with lime-free soil.

Canada lily (Lilium canadense): another American variety, Canada lilies bloom in June and July and bear up to 20 downward-hanging, yellow, orange or red flowers. They grow over 1m tall and require lime-free soil.

Lilium oriental: these lilies are hybrids known for bearing several, strongly scented flowers. They bloom from July until August in white, yellow and pink. The flower petals are typically curled or wavy, and they are popular in flower arrangements. Oriental lilies need partial shade and calcareous soil. Some popular hardy varieties include ‘Casa Blanca’, ‘Josephine’, ‘Muscadet’ and ‘Pimento’.

Turk’s cap lily (Lilium martagon; Lilium cernuum): the flowers of these species are delicately scented and have a shape reminiscent of a turban. They prefer a semi-shady location with calcareous soil. Hardy varieties include ‘Manitoba Morning’, ‘Orange Jam’ and ‘Guinea Gold’.

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Fire lily (Lilium bulbiferum): typically bearing orange flowers with brown speckles, this species grows up to 20 flowers per plant. Fire lilies grow up to 1m tall and thrive in sunny locations with slightly calcareous soil.

Tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium): this species is known for its richly-speckled hanging flowers with petals that, like Turk’s caps, curve backwards.

Madonna lily (Lilium candidum): native to the Balkans, these lilies produce up to eight beautiful white flowers and grow up to 1m tall. Although hardy, they need some protection in winter and thrive in sunny places with loose, calcareous soil.

Goldband lily (Lilium auratum): this lily is native to Japan where its name translates to ‘mountain lily’. This species grows several large fragrant flowers on a single stem. They are hardy with light winter protection and do best in cool and moist locations. Some hardy varieties include: ‘Cupido’, ‘Sphinx’ and ‘Nobility’.

Potted lilies

Many small lily varieties are suitable for growing in pots. With the right sized pot you can grow larger varieties in pots as well. Lilium oriental lilies and their hybrids tend to do the best in pots. The following varieties are fantastic for the balcony or even your living room:

• ‘Apricot Fudge’: round apricot-coloured flowers; up to 80cm tall; flowering time: June – July
• ‘Avignon’: scarlet-red flowers; up to 60cm tall; flowering time: May – July

• ‘Conca d’Or’: large yellow flowers with white edges; up to 1m tall; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Corsage’: pink and yellow petals with purple speckles; up to 60cm tall; flowering time: June – July
• ‘Eyeliner’: white flowers with purple speckles and thin purple edges; up to 60cm tall; flowering time: June – July

• ‘Hotline’: white lilies with bright pink edges; up to 1m tall; flowering time: August – September
• ‘Le Reve’: bright pink flowers with pink speckles and yellow centres; up to 80cm tall; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Marco Polo’: light pink flowers with white centres; up to 1.5m tall; flowering time: July – August
• ‘Mona Lisa’: fragrant, light pink flowers with dark pink midribs and white edges; up to 90cm tall; flowering time: May – September
• Goldband lilies (Lilium auratum): white flowers with yellow midribs and red speckles; up to 1m tall; flowering time: July – August

Lilies are surprisingly low-maintenance. However, there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of their care if you want them to really flourish. Check out our article on caring for lilies for further information and tips.