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The most common lilies are usually white, such as the famous spring Easter lily. As cute as white lilies are, they're just the beginning of what's available. Lilies can produce yellow, pink, orange, red and even purple flowers.

The purple lily is said to represent dignity, pride, admiration, success and achievement. Purple has also been considered the color of royalty for thousands of years, so purple lilies are also seen as regal.

However, you might just think of them as beautiful flowers. You are absolutely right! Let's talk about seven varieties of purple lilies that can add a royal touch to your floral display. Then we'll explore some of the basics of growing these purple beauties.

Lilium 'Purple Prince'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
• Height: 6-8 feet
• Sun exposure: full, partial

Purple Price is an Oriental-Trumpet hybrid lily that grows three to four feet tall the first year but can reach an impressive eight feet tall when mature. While the plant is very sturdy, it should still be protected from wind damage by covering it.

This plant can grow in a wide range of hardiness zones, from zone 3 to zone 10. Purple prince lilies can thrive in American gardens from Minnesota to Florida!

This lily tree's purple upward blooms can be up to eight inches in diameter. Purple petals are dotted with yellow anthers with black stamens. During the growing season, the plant can produce up to 30 of these beautiful flowers.

An 8-foot lily tree with 30 large, majestic purple flowers is sure to turn heads! If you're looking for vertical decoration for your garden space, the Purple Prince Lily might be just what you're looking for.

Purple Marble Lily ( Lilium 'Purple Marble')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-10
• Height: 3-4 feet
• Sun exposure: full, partial

The flowers of purple marble lilies are more mauve than true purple. Color names are sometimes used rather loosely in the plant world. But flower displays are about beauty, art, and creativity, not strict adherence to rules, right?

The Purple Marble Lily is an Asiatic lily with firm burgundy petals that droop slightly outward. Unlike some other Asian lilies, this lily resists browning with age.

Purple marble lilies attract pollinators such as bees and occasionally hummingbirds.

Lilium 'Purple Lady'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
• Height: 6-8 feet
• Sun exposure: full, partial

Another heat- and cold-hardy lily (zones 3-10), the purple lady lily tree can grow up to 8 feet tall in its third year.

This oriental trumpet lily has large flowers that can grow up to eight inches. The petals are a stunning purple/pink with a cream midrib. The chartreuse center of the flower brings everything together for a vibrant burst of colour.

Netty's Pride Lilium ( Lilium 'Netty's Pride')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Height: 28 inches
• Sun exposure: full, partial

Netty's pride lily is an Asiatic lily. Asiatic lilies are one of the first lilies to bloom in early summer. They are also the easiest lilies to grow.

The five inch blooms of Netty's Pride Lily are absolutely stunning. Each flower has a creamy white center that quickly turns a dark purple, almost black. The petals then turn back to creamy white at the tips. Dark purple spots form freckles at the point of transition to the tip. This is all accented by chartreuse anthers, making Netty's Pride one of the most visually appealing lilies on the market today.

Tom Pouce Lilium ( Lilium 'Tom Pouce')

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• Height: 2-3 feet
• Sun exposure: full, partial

The Tom Pouce lily is an oriental lily. Lilies of the Oriental hybrid family bloom in mid-to-late summer, later than other species of lilies. While some lilies are very lightly scented or have no scent at all, Oriental lilies feature fragrant, star-shaped flowers.

The flower's beauty and sweet fragrance live up to its name. This lily is named after the Dutch dessert tompouce. Tompouce is a shortcrust pastry filled with custard called banketbakkersroom. It is covered with icing sugar and is usually pink. It's easy to see why this dessert is named after this beautiful lily.

The blooms of this oriental lily are over eight inches long and have soft purple/pink hues. Yellow ribs and dark brown stamens complete the lovely display. The plant has many flowers, up to ten per stem. Bees and butterflies love these flowers.

Tom Pouce lilies have a longer shelf life in a vase than many other lilies, making them perfect for cutting.

Lilium 'Purple Dream'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Height: 30-40 inches
• Sun exposure: full, partial

The Asiatic lily's 6-inch blooms have a deep purple/burgundy center that almost looks airbrushed. The petals transition from this deep purple to a purple/fuchsia at the tips. The orange tips of the anthers accentuate the star-shaped flowers.

The purple dream lily blooms in midsummer, providing a wealth of color. The plant bears an average of five flowers per stem, but can grow up to nine flowers. This prolific lily in bloom will add a rare exotic touch to your garden that is sure to make your neighbors jealous. You don't have to tell them that the plant is, in fact, readily available and easy to grow. Your secrets are safe with us!

Lilium 'Dark Secret'

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
• Height: 3-5 feet
• Sun exposure: full, partial

This Asiatic lily really lives up to its name. It is characterized by dark flowers with almost black centers. The petals are deep burgundy/deep red. This flower is the darkest of the Asiatic lilies. The dark flowers contrast with the orange pistils and the plant's bright green foliage.

The dark secret lily is one of the first lilies to bloom each summer. Not only will its dark blooms make a magnificent addition to your garden, but it's also a wonderful cut flower. It is unscented, so it won't compete with fragrant flowers in cut flower arrangements.

The Basics of Growing Lilies

Many types of lilies are easy to grow. As shown in the table above, there are two main types of lilies available to residential growers: Oriental lilies and Asiatic lilies.

Of the two, Asiatic lilies are generally easier to grow. They like alkaline soils and are generally very hardy in a wide range of plant hardiness zones.

Oriental lilies prefer acidic soil. Smaller oriental lilies make great potted plants. If you add them to the garden, some soil amendments can help create a soil environment more in line with lilies' preferences. Using compost for azaleas can help these plants thrive. Ericaceous compost is any compost with a low pH, making the compost slightly acidic.

planting and watering

Lily bulbs can be planted in spring or fall. Choose a spot that receives at least six hours of sun exposure each day.

Dig a six-inch hole and plant the bulbs with the roots facing down. The distance between plants can vary depending on their size. As a general rule, divide plants about three times the width of the bulb. Adding bone meal at planting provides a slow release of nutrients that benefit the plant throughout the growing season. After planting, water the bulbs abundantly.

During the growing season, water the plants frequently. While you don't want your soil to be waterlogged, lilies need a moisture-rich environment.

Occasional fertilization also helps. If the plants have enough soil and organic matter, they may not need any additional feeding. But if they're looking a little dull, a 10-20-20 mix of slow-release fertilizers can bring them back to life. Start with a small amount of fertilizer and only add more if the plants do not respond. Adding too much fertilizer too quickly can cause fertilizer burn.

Most lilies, including those on this list, benefit from deadheading. In other words, gently remove spent blooms from the plant. This will focus all of the plant's energy and nutrients on new, healthy blooms.

Common Lily Pests and Diseases

Lilies are easy to grow, but they are prone to pests. Aphids are the most common and most destructive. They reproduce at lightning speed and can carry viruses that can damage or destroy plants.

Diluted neem oil will kill aphids on all parts of the plant. It is absolutely safe for the factory and the environment.

While insecticidal soaps are often an effective and environmentally friendly solution to eliminating an aphid infestation, some lilies may be sensitive to it. Be sure to research your particular lily before using it.

In addition to aphids, lily beetles, slugs, lily thrips, and lily weevils can also occur on lily plants.

While organic or eco-friendly options are the first line of defense, synthetic insecticides may be required to control some of these pests, especially if the infestation is already large. If you have to resort to chemicals to save your lilies, make sure to follow all label directions for using them safely.

Botrytis, also known as gray mold, can be problematic for many types of lilies. It emerges through browning leaves and flowers. Fungicide treatment is the only real option to combat the disease, but it is only preventive. If botrytis has infected the lily, it will most likely kill the plant.

Deer and rabbits often enjoy nibbling on all parts of lily plants. The damage is usually not serious, but if there are high numbers of these animals in your area, commercially available repellents may help. Insect repellants may not completely deter these woodland creatures, but they should at least slow them down.

toxicity

Most lilies, including those on this list, are highly poisonous, even fatal, to cats.

One of the most serious complications these plants can cause in cats is acute kidney injury (AKI). All of the lilies included above elicit this response. Signs of AKI include vomiting and anorexia. Even pollen from certain types of lilies can cause AKI in cats.

Many lilies are not classified as poisonous to dogs, but it is still wise to keep dogs away from these plants.

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