Lily Lilium
Lily (Lilium) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Liliaceae family. It grows 60 cm–1.5 m (24 in–4.9 ft) tall and 20–40 cm (8–16 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -25 °C (-13 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Lily in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Lily at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Liliaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1.5 m (24 in–4.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 20–40 cm (8–16 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -25 °C (-13 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about July for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany |
Is Lily toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: severely toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: all parts, pollen, vase water
Even small amounts of any part can cause fatal kidney failure in cats.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Lily
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
Questions about Lily
- How far apart should I plant Lily?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–40 cm (8–16 in).
- Does Lily need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Lily need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Lily?
- It tolerates about -25 °C (-13 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- When does Lily flower?
- From about July for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Lily poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Even small amounts of any part can cause fatal kidney failure in cats.
- What grows well with Lily?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Lily. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- True lilies (Lilium) only; daylilies are a different genus.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Tulip Tulipa gesneriana
- Crown imperial Fritillaria imperialis
- Toad lily Tricyrtis hirta
- Snake’s head fritillary Fritillaria meleagris
- Madonna lily Lilium candidum
- Regal lily Lilium regale
- Easter lily Lilium longiflorum
- Tiger lily Lilium lancifolium