How to Care for Asiatic Lilies

The flowers often come in shades of orange, red, yellow, and white. Each type of Asiatic lily has a distinct color and pattern. You’ll often see contrasting spots or stripes on their petals, which serve an essential function: they attract insects towards nectar sources and encourage cross-pollination.

Asiatic lilies do not have a scent, making them ideal for centerpieces or tablescapes.

Cutting Asiatic Lilies for a Vase

Asiatic lilies grow from bulbs and bloom in the spring. Lilies left in the ground can bloom up to a month, but they last for up to two weeks when cut for bouquets. If you cut a lily directly from your garden, don’t take more than half to two-thirds of the stem (leaves), or they won’t have enough energy and nutrients to bloom the following summer.

It’s best to cut the lily from the plant in the early part of the day, not during the hottest part of the day. This helps the plant conserve water.

How to Prolong Asiatic Lily Blooms in a Vase

Follow these tips to make sure your Asiatic lily stays healthy in your floral arrangement.

• Hold the stems under water and cut off at least one inch from the bottom
• Remove any leaves that will be submerged in the vase water
• Add flower food
• Check your vase each day to see if it needs a refill
• Clip away dead blooms to make room for new ones

To avoid getting pollen on your surfaces, try this: After your lily blooms, take a tissue or paper towel and grab the yellow/orange stamen in the center and pull away. This will leave the middle of the bloom intact and take away the messy pollen.