When to plant and prune Lily
Lily flowers from late June to late August and the dates below cover planting, flowering and the pruning window.
Planting, flowering and pruning by region
Lily is timed from the average frost dates, so its timings shift across the UK. Plot works them out from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Plant | In flower | Prune |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | early October to late November | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| South Coast and Channel | late September to mid November | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | early October to late November | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| South East and Home Counties | mid September to late October | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| East Anglia | early September to late October | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | early September to late October | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Wales and West Coast | mid September to early November | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Northern England | late August to mid October | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | late August to early October | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | early August to mid September | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Northern Ireland | mid September to late October | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | early October to late November | late June to late August | early July to mid September |
Growing notes
Depth depends on rooting type: plant basal-rooting lilies at a depth equal to the height of the bulb, and stem-rooting lilies at about two and a half times the bulb's height, spacing bulbs about 15cm apart (or three bulbs 5cm apart in a 35cm pot). Ideally plant in early autumn; spring planting is also fine.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 15 cm between plants
- Eventual height
- 120 cm
- Eventual spread
- 30 cm
- Hardiness
- H5
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- No
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 15 litres or more
- Balcony rating
- 4 out of 5
Feeding
Fortnightly high-potassium liquid feed for container-grown lilies through the growing season.
Pruning group
Deadhead spent flowers, removing the seedpod, but leave at least two-thirds of the stem and leaves to feed the bulb
What usually goes wrong
- red lily beetle
- slugs and snails
- aphids and virus spread
- bulb rot in wet winter soil
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for lily.