It was not long ago that lilies were regarded as the temperamental child of the garden, requiring fastidious care to coax into bloom. Now, gardeners look at lilies with renewed interest, and they recognize that the newer lily hybrids are not as finicky as their wild counterparts. From a design perspective, lilies offer the gardener a variety of heights, colors, shapes and fragrances from which to choose, thus earning a special place in the mixed border. Asiatic hybrids are fairly well adapted to the Midwest climate and are among the earliest to bloom.
Flowers tend to be upturned and cup-shaped.
Trumpet hybrids are known for their distinct trumpet-shaped blooms and perform fairly well in the Midwest. Additional lily varieties that gardeners may be familiar with include Lilium auratum , also known as the golden-rayed lily. This regal flower displays large, white, spreading petals that are accented with yellow stripes and purple spots. Blooming in late summer and early autumn, this variety also emits a fragrant scent. The popular Madonna lily, Lilium candidum , is easily recognized by trumpet-shaped, fragrant white flowers that bloom in early and midsummer.