The Lilium comprises ornamental lilies for garden and cut flower cultivation. Well-known groups include Asian, Oriental, and Trumpet Lilies. Liliums are valued for their striking flowers, fragrance, and long vase life. The Netherlands is a global leader in the production and export of lily bulbs and cut lilies, with a focus on quality and innovation.
The Lilium comprises a large and versatile collection of flower bulbs that are cultivated worldwide as ornamental plants for both gardens and cut flower production. Liliums belong to the Liliaceae family and are known for their striking flowers, rich color palette, and often strong fragrance. Within the product group, there are hundreds of species and thousands of cultivars, divided into various hybrid groups such as Asian, Oriental, Trumpet, Longiflorum, and OT hybrids.
Asiatic lilies are characterized by early flowering, sturdy stems, and a wide color spectrum, usually without fragrance. Oriental lilies have large, strongly scented flowers and are widely used in luxury bouquets. Trumpet lilies stand out due to their elongated flower shape and vigorous growth. Modern hybrids combine traits such as flower size, vase life, disease resistance, and suitability for transport.
Lilium cultivation primarily takes place from flower bulbs. The Netherlands plays an important global role in the production and export of lily bulbs and cut lilies, thanks in part to specialized growers, favorable climatic conditions, and advanced cultivation techniques. The sector supplies products to florists, garden centers, exporters, and consumer markets.
Liliums are valued for their decorative value, long vase life, and wide applicability in gardens, container cultivation, and floral arrangements. At the same time, cultivation requires precise control of soil quality, watering, temperature, and disease control. Innovation within the product group is increasingly focusing on sustainable cultivation methods, energy efficiency, and the development of new varieties with unique colors, shapes, and fragrance characteristics.
There are many species and groups within the genus Lilium (true lilies). They are usually classified into a few main groups based on origin, flower shape, and fragrance.
The best-known groups are:
Asian lilies (Asiatic hybrids): Early flowering, many colors, usually no strong fragrance. Hardy garden plants.
Oriental lilies (Oriental lilies): Large flowers with a strong fragrance. Often white, pink, or red.
Trumpet lilies (Trumpet / Aurelian hybrids): Trumpet-shaped flowers, strongly fragrant, and often tall-growing.
Longiflorum lilies: Long, trumpet-shaped white flowers, known as Easter lilies.
Martagon lilies: Trailing flowers with curved petals ("Turkish bonnet" shape). Good for partial shade.
American hybrids: Derived from North American species, often have a wild appearance.
Candidum lilies: Classic white Madonna lilies.
OT, LA, and other crosses: Modern hybrids:
LA hybrids = Longiflorum × Asian
OT hybrids = Oriental × Trumpet
Often extra vigorous and large-flowered.
In addition, there are more than 100 wild Lilium species and thousands of cultivated cultivars.
Yes, that is often possible — but it depends on the type of lily and the conditions.
Many garden lilies are perennials and can remain in the ground for several years without any problems. They will then come up again every spring. Species such as the Asiatic lily and Oriental lily do this particularly well.
After 3–5 years, bulbs may be close together and bloom less. At that point, you can dig them up in the autumn and divide or transplant them.
You can plant lily bulbs in both the autumn and the spring. Bulbs planted in the spring will bloom somewhat earlier than bulbs planted in the spring.
Incidentally, it is possible to plant bulbs stored in the freezer year-round.
Plant the bulbs deep enough (approximately 3 times the thickness of the bulb), as the roots the plant produces directly above the bulb at the base of the stem are more important than the roots the bulb produces. An exception to this is Lilium martagon bulbs: the roots of the bulb are more important here.
