How to Grow Asiatic Lily 'Enchantment'

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Asiatic Lily 'Enchantment'

Lilium × asiatica 'Enchantment'

flower

Enchantment is a striking Asiatic hybrid lily renowned for its vivid reddish-orange flowers with darker spots and recurved petals. This vigorous cultivar produces multiple blooms per stem and is one of the most popular cut flower and garden varieties. It offers reliable performance, disease resistance, and long-lasting blooms that brighten gardens throughout mid-to-late summer.

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

Plant Asiatic Lily 'Enchantment'
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
First Asiatic Lily 'Enchantment' blooms
Around Jul 16

≈ 90 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; afternoon shade beneficial in hot climates

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Water: Regular watering to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water at soil level to avoid wetting foliage. Reduce watering after flowering. Drought-tolerant once established but performs better with regular moisture during growing season.

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Spacing: 8 inches

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Days to maturity: 90-120 days from planting to first bloom

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Planting depth: Plant bulbs 6-8 inches deep (three times the bulb height), pointy end up

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy or sandy soil

pH: 6.0-6.5

Amendments:

Perlite or coarse sand for drainage Compost or aged manure for organic matter Bone meal at planting for phosphorus

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9, with best performance in zones 4-8

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

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Growth Stages

Dormancy & Chilling

8-12 weeks

Bulbs require 8-12 weeks of cold stratification (temperatures below 45°F) to trigger spring emergence

Store bulbs in cool location over winter or plant in fall. Ensure drainage to prevent rot. Protect from rodents if stored.

Emergence & Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Shoots emerge 2-4 weeks after soil warms. Tall stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves grow rapidly, reaching 2.5-4 feet tall

Stake tall varieties early. Keep consistently moist. Remove any competing weeds. Monitor for slugs and aphids on young growth.

Budding & Bud Development

3-4 weeks

Flower buds form at stem tips in clusters. Buds are tight, gradually enlarging and showing color

Apply balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) when buds first visible. Ensure adequate water. Remove lower leaves to improve air circulation.

Flowering

2-3 weeks per stem

Vibrant reddish-orange flowers open sequentially over 2-3 weeks. Each bloom is 4-6 inches across with 6 reflexed petals and prominent stamens

Remove stamens if keeping indoors to prevent pollen stains. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional blooms. Stake if needed to prevent bending.

Senescence & Dormancy Preparation

4-6 weeks

Petals fade and drop. Seed pods develop (if not removed). Foliage yellows and dies back naturally

Allow foliage to die back naturally to recharge bulbs. Do NOT cut leaves until completely brown. Reduce watering. Bulbs enter dormancy and prepare for next season.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

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

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Kochia Plants requiring frequent overhead watering (due to disease risk) Dense shade plants that compete for light

Common Pests

Hand-pick adults and orange egg clusters. Use spinosad or neem oil spray. Remove debris where beetles overwinter.
Spray with insecticidal soap or strong water jet. Use neem oil for severe infestations. Encourage natural predators.
Increase humidity to discourage. Use miticide if severe. Remove affected leaves and stems.
and
Remove by hand, especially at night. Use copper barriers or diatomaceous earth. Beer traps can help.
Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Remove infected leaves promptly. Apply fungicide if needed.
No cure; remove infected plants. Control aphids that spread virus. Plant virus-resistant varieties.

Uses

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Edible Petals

Culinary

Asiatic lily petals can be used as decorative elements in salads, desserts, and cocktails, adding visual appeal and a delicate, slightly sweet flavor. Ensure lilies are grown without pesticides if intended for consumption. [source]

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Cut Flower Arrangements

Craft

Enchantment is a premium cut flower prized by florists and gardeners. Its long vase life (7-10 days), vibrant color, and multiple blooms per stem make it ideal for bouquets, arrangements, and wedding designs. [source]

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Garden Display & Landscape Design

Household

These lilies serve as focal points in borders, cottage gardens, and formal arrangements. Their height and bold color create dramatic visual impact and attract pollinators throughout summer. [source]

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Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Lily flowers attract butterflies, bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial pollinators through nectar production. The prominent stamens facilitate pollen transfer, supporting local pollinator populations. [source]

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Traditional Uses

Medicinal

While not commonly used medicinally in modern Western herbalism, lilies have been valued in traditional Asian medicine. Lily bulbs (Lilium species) are used in some TCM preparations for respiratory support. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Cut stems in early morning when flowers are just opening. Cut with a sharp knife, taking at least one-third of the stem to allow bulb regeneration. Remove lower leaves below the waterline. Change water every 2-3 days. Remove stamens to prevent pollen stains on petals and clothing. Flowers last 7-10 days in a vase. For garden enjoyment, deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering season.

Fun Facts

🌱 Enchantment was introduced in the 1950s and remains one of the most commercially important Asiatic lily varieties worldwide, appearing in millions of floral arrangements annually.
🌱 The vivid reddish-orange color in Enchantment contains carotenoid pigments that also appear in carrots and tomatoes, making the flowers nutritionally rich for pollinators.
🌱 Asiatic lilies like Enchantment lack fragrance, unlike Oriental and Trumpet lilies, making them ideal for indoor arrangements where strong scents might be overwhelming.

Gardening Terms

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

Cultivar Deadhead Full Sun Hybrid pH

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