5 Types of Yellow Lilies – How to Care for Them

Many lilies are characterized by large, showy flowers. White is often thought of as the traditional color of lilies, but the color palette of these flowers is even wider. In addition to white, there are also lilies in beautiful shades of red, pink, orange, purple and yellow.

Yellow lilies give a bright and sunny atmosphere to gardens, flowerbeds and homes. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many options for yellow as there are for other lily colors, but there are still some options. Here are five of our favorites. Some of these may become your favourites.

1. Citronella Lily (Lilium ‘Citronella’)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
• Height: 3-5 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

This Asian lily grows up to 1.50 m in height. The plant features showy, golden-amber to lemon-yellow flowers with brown or black flecks. The drooping flowers with recurved petals bloom in early to mid-summer. Add these showy flowers to a 5 foot plant and you have one showy lily.

The citronella lily, as its name suggests, repels mosquitoes, but there is evidence that it is resistant to the lily leaf beetle. This is music to the ears of lily growers who have seen their plants damaged or destroyed by this pest. The plant also attracts pollinators such as bees.

Citronella lilies produce more flowers as they take root. After several growing seasons, 20 or more flowers will bloom from each stem.

2. Grand Cru Lily (Lilium ‘Grand Cru’)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
• Height: 3-4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

There are no subtleties in the Grand Cru Lily. Really great in every way. The large flowers of this 4-foot-tall plant are bright yellow with maroon/wine red brushes in the center. It’s like the sun is growing in the garden.

Unlike the drooping flowers of the citronella lily, the open six-petaled flowers of the Grand Cru lily point upward. This Asian lily is a favorite of bees and butterflies.

In addition to outdoor gardens, Grand Cru lilies also grow well in containers and make great accents for cut flower arrangements.

3. Golden Splendor Lily (Lilium ‘Golden Splendor’)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
• Height: 3-4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

The Golden Splendor could not be more aptly named. Its large golden flowers add sparkle and beauty to any growing environment. It is also very easy to grow. It grows in a wide variety of soils, provided it has proper drainage. This plant is more drought tolerant than many other lilies.

The Golden Splendor Lily grows up to 1.20 m tall and flowers in late summer. Most Asian lilies are odorless, but trumpet lilies like the Golden Splendor have a pleasant scent.

The trumpet flowers of this lily are facing outwards and are golden yellow on the inside and burgundy or purple on the outside. However, you’re not the only one who loves this bud. A favorite of pollinators, the Golden Splendor Lily attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

4. Leopard Lily (Lilium pardalinum)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
• Height: 6-8 feet
• Sun Exposure: Partial

This lily is known by several big cat names, including leopard lily, panther lily, and California tiger lily. Whatever cat name you prefer, this lily is sure to turn heads with its mottled, nodding blooms. The cat got its common name because its spots resemble those of a leopard.

The flowers are often orange-red turning yellow near the center, but they also feature solid yellow flowers with the flower’s characteristic leopard spots. This lily is a wildflower native to California and southern Oregon. It is found near riverbanks, swamps, and forests up to 6,000 feet in elevation along the Sierra Nevada and California Coast Ranges.

Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies pollinate this plant in its natural habitat, and do the same when planted in your garden. The plant grows up to 2.40 meters tall and flowers in early summer. It tolerates more shade than many lilies, giving you more options for potential planting locations.

5. Belladonna Lily (Lilium ‘Belladonna’)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
• Height: 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

Belladonna is a species of oriental lily, a hybrid of the oriental lily and the trumpet lily. Orient Pet lilies retain the best traits of both parent plants, so this plant is a triumph of crossing. Orient pet lilies are disease resistant. It is also more drought tolerant than the parent plant.

In addition, Orienpet lilies are more cold and heat tolerant than many other lilies. These hybrids are some of the easiest lilies to grow on the market today. Belladonna lilies bloom in late summer and attract bees and butterflies. The golden yellow flowers grow up to 7 inches and have a light, pleasant fragrance.

Tips for Growing Lilies

Planting and Watering

Most lilies grow in partial or full sun. The ideal planting location is one that receives 6 hours of sunlight each day.

Lily bulbs are best planted in spring or autumn. Dig a 15 cm hole and add bone meal to allow the plant to release nutrients slowly. If you are planting multiple lilies, make a hole about three times the width of the bulb. After planting, the onions should be watered abundantly.

Lilies do not like being soggy, but they do need constant moisture. Plan to water frequently throughout the lily growing season. Also, most lilies benefit from dying flowers during the growing season. Removing faded buds allows the plant to focus all of its energy and nutrients on healthy buds.

Common Lily Pests

One of the few drawbacks of lilies is their vulnerability to pests. Aphids love lilies, as do lily beetles, slugs, thrips, and leaf beetles. These pests can damage or destroy lily plants at an alarming rate.

Organic products such as diluted neem oil are effective in getting rid of some of these pests, but when an infestation occurs, time is not on your side. These pests can quickly kill lily plants. If organic solutions aren’t enough and you want to save your lilies, synthetic insecticides may be your only option.

Follow label instructions for safe use. Organic pesticides are environmentally friendly and safe for gardeners, so chemicals should always be used sparingly and only as a last resort. Gray mold (bottle) is also a common problem for lilies. This disease is often fatal to plants. Fungicide treatments can be used to prevent the disease, but there is no cure once the disease occurs in lilies.

Common animals such as rabbits and deer are known to eat lilies, but often do not destroy the plant outright. If these animals are common in your area, try commercial repellents.

Toxicity

It is very important to note that most lilies, including the lilies mentioned above, are highly toxic and in some cases fatal to cats.

The most common problem in cats caused by lilies is acute kidney failure (AKI). Some lilies are so toxic to cats that pollen alone can cause AKI. Symptoms of AKI include loss of appetite and vomiting.

Most lilies are completely safe for dogs. Still, to be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to keep puppies away.