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How to Grow Asiatic Lily 'Connecticut King'

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Asiatic Lily 'Connecticut King'

Lilium × asiatica 'Connecticut King'

flower

Connecticut King is a vibrant golden-yellow Asiatic hybrid lily known for its bright, upward-facing blooms and reliable performance in gardens and as a cut flower. This cultivar produces multiple flowers per stem and thrives in temperate climates with minimal care requirements. It's an excellent choice for borders, containers, and floral arrangements.

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Example Asiatic Lily 'Connecticut King' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Asiatic Lily 'Connecticut King'

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Asiatic Lily 'Connecticut King' blooms

    Around Jul 16

    ≈ 90 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Asiatic Lily 'Connecticut King' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; tolerates light afternoon shade in hot climates
💧
Water: Water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry between waterings. Provide 1-2 inches per week during growing season. Reduce watering after flowering. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases.
📏
Spacing: 8 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 90-120 days from planting bulb to first bloom
🌱
Planting depth: Plant bulbs 6-8 inches deep, measured from base of bulb to soil surface

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy or sandy soil
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Organic compost Perlite or sand for drainage enhancement Bone meal at planting

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 3-8; thrives in cool to moderate climates with cold winter dormancy

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b

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Growth Stages

1

Dormancy/Chilling

12-16 weeks (winter)

Bulbs require 12-16 weeks of cold temperatures (below 50°F) to break dormancy and initiate growth

Store bulbs in cool location over winter or plant in fall for spring emergence. Ensure bulbs are firm and disease-free before planting.

2

Emergence and Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Shoots emerge in spring, developing multiple leafy stems 2-4 feet tall. Leaves are lance-shaped and alternate along stems.

Provide support stakes if needed in windy locations. Maintain consistent moisture. Apply balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) every 3 weeks. Remove any diseased foliage immediately.

3

Bud Development and Flowering

2-3 weeks

Terminal buds form at stem tips, developing into 5-10 upward-facing golden-yellow flowers per stem, each 4-6 inches across. Flowers are typically unscented in this variety.

Provide high-potassium fertilizer (lower nitrogen ratio) to support blooming. Water at soil level to prevent flower spotting. Stake stems if heavy with blooms. Enjoy blooms for 2-3 weeks.

4

Seed Pod Development and Senescence

4-6 weeks

After flowers fade, green seed pods develop at stem tips. Stems gradually yellow and decline. Plant stores energy in bulb for next season.

Deadhead spent flowers but leave stems intact until they fully brown. Do NOT remove foliage early. Continue light watering until foliage dies back completely. Allow stems to remain for 6+ weeks after flowering.

5

Dormancy Preparation

8-12 weeks (late summer-fall)

Stems fully brown and dry down. Bulb has stored sufficient energy for next year. Underground bulb may produce small bulblets.

Cut back dead stems to soil level. Reduce watering significantly. In zones 3-5, bulbs naturally enter dormancy. In warmer zones, apply summer mulch to keep soil cool. Divide bulbs every 3-4 years if desired.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Daylilies Coreopsis Salvia Lavender Catmint (Nepeta) Russian Sage Black-eyed Susan Ornamental grasses Alliums

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Walnut trees Areas with poor drainage or standing water

Common Pests

  • Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs

  • Hand-pick adults and orange egg clusters from leaf undersides; use spinosad spray if severe; remove garden debris where they overwinter

  • and

    Remove hiding places; use beer traps or copper tape barriers; apply diatomaceous earth around plants; hand-pick at night

  • Increase humidity with regular misting; spray with neem oil or miticide if infestation is severe

  • Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove affected foliage; apply fungicide in humid conditions if needed; remove spent flowers promptly

  • No cure; remove infected plants; control aphids which transmit viruses; purchase bulbs from reputable disease-tested sources

Uses

🍳

Edible flowers (decorative)

Culinary

Asiatic lily petals can be used as edible decorations for desserts and salads, though they have minimal flavor. Ensure no pesticides have been applied before consuming. [source]

🏠

Cut flower arrangements

Household

Connecticut King is a premier cut flower choice with long vase life, vibrant color, and multiple blooms per stem. Its upward-facing flowers make it ideal for formal and casual arrangements. [source]

🏠

Garden ornament and landscape color

Household

The bright golden-yellow flowers provide strong visual impact in borders, foundation plantings, and mixed perennial beds. Their height and color make them focal point plants. [source]

🦋

Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

While Asiatic lilies produce little or no nectar, their prominent stamens and large flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators during mid to late summer blooming. [source]

🎨

Dried flower arrangements

Craft

Seed pods can be dried for use in floral crafts and dried arrangements, providing interesting texture and structure to mixed compositions. [source]

Harvest Tips

For cut flowers, harvest stems early in morning when first flower on stem opens. Cut stems at base, leaving at least two-thirds of stem and foliage on plant for bulb regeneration. Blooms last 2-3 weeks in a vase. Change water every 2-3 days and remove lower leaves below water line. Connecticut King is excellent for forcing indoors during winter with proper chilling period.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Connecticut King was hybridized and introduced in the 1970s and has remained one of the most reliable and popular yellow Asiatic lilies for over 50 years due to its vigor and consistent performance.
  • 🌱 Asiatic lilies are called 'Asiatic' because their parent species originate from Asia, but modern hybrids like Connecticut King are bred globally; the 'upward-facing' flower orientation of Connecticut King differs from Oriental lilies which face outward or downward.
  • 🌱 The bright golden color acts as a visual cue attracting specific types of pollinators; the prominent stamens produce golden pollen that can stain clothing permanently, so many florists remove stamens from cut lilies to reduce mess.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Deadhead Full Sun Hybrid Mulch
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