American hybrids

American lilies are common throughout North America. They are the result of mixing many local varieties. The plants are tall with stems about 2 meters. In comparison, the flowers are small – up to 10-12 cm. Varieties with two-color petals and large specks near the base are common.

For successful cultivation, American hybrids require light partial shade and abundant watering. They do not like transplantation, so the planting material is immediately determined for a permanent place in the flowerbed.

Among the most popular American hybrids: Afterglow, Lake Tulare, Shuksan.

Variegated bud of the Shuksan variety

Asian hybrids

The most numerous and popular group. A distinctive feature is unpretentiousness to conditions. They reproduce easily and rarely get sick. Lilies fit perfectly into lazy flowerbeds with minimal care. They are successfully grown in the southern and northern regions.

The abundance of varieties allows you to form a flower bed from plants 50 to 220 cm high. The wide cup-shaped buds do not smell at all. The range of shades is from snow-white to black and burgundy. For a flower bed, they can be selected so that flowering plants will replace each other from July to early September.

The best representatives of the group are Mystery Dream, Mapira, Double Sensation, Black Out.

Mapira variety with dark-colored buds

Snow-white lilies

The group includes varieties with white and soft cream inflorescences. The name European hybrids or candidum is also used. They are distinguished by their demanding care, so they are not recommended for novice gardeners, although the result is worth all the effort.

It is recommended to plant in illuminated areas. Stems with a lush crown of flowers grow up to 200 cm. Flowers are compact tubular or funnel-shaped, up to 15-18 cm in diameter. They differ from the Asian group in their delicate pleasant aroma.

The most popular varieties of this group include: Apollo, Madonna, Regale.

White lily Madonna

Curly hybrids or martagons

Curly lilies are distinguished by their elegantly curled upward petals. The flower opens downwards, and a bunch of stamens peeks out from the inflorescence. The petals and perianths are speckled with dark specks. This variety smells nice, but the aroma is barely noticeable.

Curly lilies are considered resistant to most diseases. They can overwinter in open ground. Among the disadvantages are slow growth and poor tolerance of transplantation. They can grow in one place for many years.

Popular representatives of the group: Claude Shride, Maroon King, Slate’s Morning, Manitoba Fox.

Claude Shride lily

Long-flowered lilies

These hybrids are direct descendants of several species of tropical and subtropical lilies. An excellent option for a long-flowering flowerbed. The buds are narrow and elongated and droop slightly after opening. They are characterized by a flower length of up to 20 cm, not a diameter.

The flowering period is from June to the first weeks of September. Heat-loving lilies categorically do not tolerate frost and are suitable only for warm climates. In the middle zone, they are planted in pots or greenhouses.

The varieties are usually named with the color White: Fox, Elegans, Heaven.

Inflorescence of the White Heaven variety

Tubular-Orleans hybrids

The group unites more than 1000 varieties. The blossoming buds up to 20 cm in diameter can look like a cup, a flat star or a bowl. The flowers are characterized by a pleasant aroma and a darker shade of the outer side of the petals.

The color palette is varied, but the most common are lilies of yellow and pinkish shades. Another feature is that two flower-bearing stems up to 2 meters high grow from one bulb.

Several varieties are popular in our climate: African Queen, Pink Perfection, Golden Splendorm, Lankon.

Inflorescence of the Pink Perfection variety

Oriental hybrids

Heat-loving oriental lilies are obtained by crossing varieties from East Asia. The color palette cannot be called wide, but everything is compensated by the huge variety of buds. Flowers are tubular, cup-shaped and bell-shaped. The petals are beautiful with specks, contrasting stripes and color transitions.

The large size of the inflorescences is also attractive – up to 25 centimeters with a beautiful frame of green foliage. Lilies of the eastern group are heat-loving. Varieties that can be grown freely in open ground have appeared recently.

Among the popular and proven varieties: Salmon Star, Casa Blanca, Lotus Queen, Curly Sue, Kissproof.

Lily Curly Sue

Tetraploid hybrids

Tetraploid varieties are a new product created on the basis of Asian selection. They are highly decorative, unpretentious to conditions and frost-resistant. The average height of an adult plant reaches 150 cm.

A dense thick stem can simultaneously hold up to 25 buds. Tetraploid varieties bloom profusely for more than one month. Suitable for growing in the cool conditions of Siberia.

The most decorative ones include Pearl Jessica, Pearl Frances, Pearl Loraine, Pearl Stacey.

Sunny lily Pearl Stacey

Universal LA hybrids

Modern hybrids are bred from long-flowered and Asiatic lilies. These are low plants with large wax flowers up to 25 cm in diameter. Dense petals fit tightly to the calyx, so the buds are not afraid of wind and rain. Hybrids are distinguished by a variety of shades – from white to burgundy.

In addition to a single-color color, petals can be speckled, striped and with colored strokes. There are varieties whose flowers gradually change color with the degree of blooming. LA hybrids are valued for their unpretentiousness and abundant, long flowering.

The most beloved varieties are Top Gun, Suncrest, California, Funny Girl, Original Live.

Varied buds of the Suncrest lily

OT hybrids or tree lilies

Large varieties that grow up to 2.5 meters in height under good conditions. The hybrid is based on the best qualities of the oriental and tubular groups. The flowers match the size of the stem – wide cup-shaped or funnel-shaped inflorescences of a single or variegated color with a pleasant sweet aroma. Up to 25 buds are formed on one peduncle.

The longer the bulb grows in one place, the larger the flowers will be. OT hybrids are frost-resistant, get sick less often and reproduce well. They can overwinter in open ground, but it is better to play it safe and cover them with spruce branches or foliage.

Popular varieties are the following groups: Holland Beauty, Donato, Purple Prince, Black Beauty, Big Brother.

Black Beauty Lily Bud

The variety of lilies allows you to choose a variety for the conditions of a specific garden plot. From the plants, you can form tiered flower beds, high hedges or shady ones to fill in the gaps. The bulbs are inexpensive and can be planted at any time of year except the winter months. To get luxurious blooming lilies, you don’t need a lot of money or complex agricultural technology. Few plants can compare with them in beauty, richness of shades and shapes.