Lilies are a beloved and timeless addition to any garden, bringing elegance, fragrance, and a burst of color. With their colorful, star-shaped flowers, lilies have the power to brighten up any space and create a stunning focal point. Whether you have a traditionally inspired garden, a terrace garden, or some balcony space, lilies are remarkably versatile and can complement the ambiance perfectly.
Some of you may think of lilies as old-fashioned. The truth is that there are numerous modern hybrid varieties available today that offer a wide range of colors, sizes, and forms. If you haven’t incorporated lilies to your garden, we hope this article will inspire you to do so. That said, here are 13 beautiful varieties of lilies you can grow in your balcony garden.
13 Beautiful Lilies for Balcony Gardens
Nankeen Lilies
The Nankeen lily (Lilium x testaceum) is a hybrid garden lily that has yellow to pale orange flowers. It ideally blooms in late spring, illuminating the garden with their radiant orange shade, reminiscent of a glorious summer sunset. With a height of up to four feet, the Nankeen lily’s and typically produces 12-18 fragrant flowers on its dainty stems. This beautiful flower is not only gorgeous to look at, it also has a strong sweet floral scent and is quite possibly the easiest of all Lilium species to grow in your garden.
Matrix Lily
These are a type of Asiatic hybrid lily known for its large, upward-facing blooms and sturdy stems. They bloom in late spring to early summer in India, typically in May or June.
They are available in a wide range of colors, including pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. Matrix lilies produce beautiful, intense flowers that are sure to add a pop of color and vibrancy to your balcony garden. The deep green foliage of Matrix lilies provides a fine contrast to the rich, shimmering flowers, making them stand out even more.
Matrix lilies are also easy to grow and care for, making them a popular choice for gardeners of all skill levels. You can grow them in large containers, beds, and sunny borders.
Unlike some other types of lilies though, Matrix lilies are usually not fragrant.
Trumpet Lily
Trumpet lilies, also known as Aurelian lilies, are renowned for their exquisite fragrance. They produce large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are up to 6-10 inches long and come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, orange, and more. They are tall and magnificent, producing up to 12-15 blooms per stalk, with the African Queen variety being a crowd favorite. Trumpet lilies release a heavy, sweet fragrance that can perfume your entire balcony. Trumpet lilies are also easy to care for and require minimal maintenance. They bloom in mid-summer and can produce flowers for a long time.
Orienpet Lily
Orienpet lilies are a unique hybrid of Oriental and Trumpet/Aurelian variety. They combine the best qualities of both parents, resulting in a beautiful and robust flower that is perfect for gardens and cut flower arrangements.
Orienpet lilies are robust and have high heat tolerance, making them a great choice for summer gardens. They have large, fragrant flowers that come in a rich array of colors, including lovely shades of yellows, reds, pinks, oranges, and whites.
Oriental lilies are known for their famously intoxicating fragrance. They generally resemble Oriental flowers but have more of a Trumpet fragrance. Their flowers, which can grow up to 6 to 10 inches, come in a range of colors, including pink, yellow, orange, red, and white, allowing for a vibrant garden display.
Longiflorum Lily
Longiflorum lilies have elegant, trumpet-shaped white flowers and are often associated with purity and innocence. Also known as Easter lilies, they are prized for their elegance and subtle fragrance. These white lilies grow up to 1 to 3 feet tall and can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, making them a resilient choice for cooler climates. They are also popular choices for wedding bouquets and religious ceremonies.
Tiger Lily
For those new to lily growing, Tiger lilies are a perfect choice. Tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium or Lilium tigrinum) are a beautiful and vibrant flowering plant native to China, Japan, and Korea. They are bulbous perennial flowers that come back year after year if properly cared for.
Tiger lilies grow up to 2-5 feet tall (60-150 cm) on slender stems clad with strongly lance-shaped leaves. Tiger lilies are known for their vibrant orange blooms with striking black or crimson spots, resembling a tiger’s skin.
These large, unscented flowers are 5 inches (12 cm) and mostly downward-facing, adorned with gracefully recurved tepals and held on long, upright stems. Prolific, mature bulbs can produce up to 40 blossoms and will multiply to form clumps over the years.
Tiger lily plants require minimal care and are fairly low-maintenance plants. You can grow them from their seeds or bulbils during spring. These plants can thrive in a variety of conditions, including full sun or partial shade and moist or dry soil. They are also robust and can tolerate virus infections.
The Tiger lily plant can multiply fast, providing you with beautiful flowers for a long time. If you want to make a bold statement in your garden, these flowers are a perfect addition. One thing to note about the tiger lily is that they can be toxic to cats.
Asiatic Lily
Asiatic lilies produce stunning trumpet-shaped flowers with six petals arranged in two layers. They come in a wide range of colors, including vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white.
They are smaller than most lily varieties and are usually not fragrant. These plants can bear 3-6 blooms per stem, making them a long-lasting option for any garden. They are known for their vibrant hues and adaptability to different growing conditions. Asiatic lilies have a relatively long blooming period, typically from early to mid-summer. This means you can enjoy their beautiful blooms for an extended period of time.
Casa Blanca Lily
Often used in wedding bouquets, the Casa Blanca is known for its stunning white color that adds a sense of serenity and tranquility to any garden. As an oriental hybrid, it infuses a light, sweet scent into the garden and grows up to 3 to 4 feet tall, blooming from May to September.
Oriental Lilies
Oriental lilies are a popular type of lily that are known for their large, fragrant blooms and outward-facing flowers. They come in shades of white, pink, and red, and their alluring sweet, spicy scent makes them a favorite for floral arrangements and gardens.
The leaves of this plant are long and narrow, and the stems are sturdy and upright. Oriental lilies have larger flowers than their Asiatic counterparts, with some growing up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall. Oriental lilies bloom in mid to late summer and can produce flowers for a long time.
They are hardy plants that can thrive in a variety of growing conditions. Plus, they are easy to care for and require minimal maintenance. Plant these fragrant flowers near seating areas, walkways, or windows to enjoy their scent up close.
Daylilies
Daylilies are not true lilies, but are instead members of the Hemerocallidaceae family. They are clump-forming, erect, herbaceous perennials that grow 1 to 1.5 feet in height and width.
You’ll identify them by their long, narrow, sword-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers that typically last only a day. You can find these flowers in a wide range of colors, including orange, yellow, pink, red, and white.
Daylilies are highly salt tolerant and easy to grow, making them a popular choice for gardeners. You can also grow them in rock gardens, as specimens, in borders or containers, or at tree bases. They are a good source of nectar and attract pollinators to your garden.
Some species of Hemerocallis are even cultivated as ornamentals or for their edible flowers and buds.
Overall, these flowers are a beautiful and easy-to-grow addition to any garden. With their wide range of colors and patterns, they are sure to add a pop of color and interest to your outdoor space.
Calla Lily
Calla lilies, also known as Zantedeschia, are beautiful flowers that come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, green, and black. They are native to southern Africa and are well-suited for warm zones.
They have distinctive trumpet-shaped flowers and smooth, sword-like foliage that remains attractive throughout the season. You can grow these plants from rhizomes. They are also perfect for growing indoors as houseplants, either in containers or near a sunny window.
They require regular watering, especially during the growing season with monthly application of liquid fertilizer while flowering. The best time to plant them in India is in the months of January or February and by March, you should see them start blooming.
Spider Lilies
Spider lilies are beautiful and unique flowers that are native to Asia. They have a unique and striking appearance, with thin, delicate petals and long stamens that resemble spider legs You’ll find them in a variety of colors, including red, white, yellow, orange, pink, and more.
#Cultural significance: Spider lilies have a strong cultural significance in Asia, particularly in Japan and China. In Japan, this lily is associated with death and are often planted near gravesites. In China, it is associated with good fortune. It is also often used in traditional medicine.
Spider lilies are hardy plants that are relatively easy to grow and require minimal maintenance. They prefer well-draining soil and partial to full sun. Plant them in autumn and enjoy their blooms from late summer to early autumn.
#Symbolism: Different colors of spider lilies have different symbolic meanings. For example, the red spider lily represents death and the circle of life, while the white spider lily represents a new beginning. Yellow spider lily often symbolizes wealth, while the orange spider lily represents endurance and pride. With their striking appearance, low maintenance, and long blooming period, these beautiful flowers can add a touch of elegance to your balcony garden.
Rain Lilies
Rain lilies, also known as Zephyranthes, are bulbous plants that are native to Central and South America. They produce funnel- to goblet-shaped flowers in a range of colors, including white, pink, yellow, and red. On opening, the flowers are take on a trumpet-shape for a few hours. As they mature, the petals and sepals spread widely to about 2 inches across.
Rain lilies bloom after a rain shower, usually in late summer to early autumn. They are known for their ephemeral nature, with flowers lasting only a few hours to a few days.
Rain lilies are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance. They prefer well-draining soil and full sun to partial shade. Plant them in autumn to enjoy their blooms from late summer to early autumn.
#Cultural significance: In Mexico, this flower is associated with the Virgin Mary.
Conclusion
Beyond mere garden adornments, flowers are nature’s enchanting messengers, and these beautiful lilies, in particular, have the power to weave magic into your monotonous life. Their vibrant blooms and delicate fragrance bewitch your senses, transporting you to a world of beauty and tranquility.
Amidst life’s bustling chaos, these lilies whisper of love’s tender simplicity, transforming your balcony into a haven of eternal affection. Embrace their allure, and let these blossoms become the catalysts for filling your days with joy and your heart with everlasting happiness. Your balcony will be forever adorned with the charm of love’s sweet serenade.
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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