From Asiatic to calla to gloriosa to Peruvian to torch to water, lilies appear at every turn, whether in catalogs or on nursery shelves. While they don't all belong to the genus Lilium, most are bulbous plants that are easy to grow, beautiful to look at, and come back year after year. Most of these lilies are available in local nurseries, either as tubers to be planted or already growing in pots.
Most true lilies are hardy perennials in the Bay Area.
Their foliage dies down in winter and re-sprouts in spring. Selecting a range of varieties can provide bloom from spring through fall. Where summers are hot, they prefer light shade, since pastel- colored blooms may bleach out in full sun. They need good drainage, so they do well in containers as well as in loose garden soil. Choose bulbs that have thick, fleshy scales and perhaps several roots.