The Sweet-Smelling Flower That Thrives In Containers & Is Irresistible To Butterflies

For some, awareness of lilies begins and ends with the white flowers sold at Eastertime, but there are more than 100 species and 8,000 varieties of Lilium (Lilium spp.) in vibrant hues and assorted sizes. If you have a small yard, no yard at all, or live in an area where deer and rabbits chew on the new growth of plants, Oriental lilies are a great option when starting a pollinator garden in containers. All but the double flowered variety, which has no pollen, have a strong fragrance that gets even more powerful after the sun sets. The unique spicy smell is irresistible to many butterfly species, particularly swallowtails. Other beneficial garden visitors, like native bees and birds, also find the aroma enticing.

Oriental lilies, with their large blooms that look outward or downward, bring fall color to your container garden in white and variations of red. The flower's nectaries, or glands, secrete nectar and the lily's strong smell then alerts butterflies to its presence; it is an essential source of the sugars they need in their diet. Most lilies grow well in containers, though if you choose a taller variety it may need staking. Beyond the usual benefits of growing plants in containers, potted lilies provide food for pollinators when other sources are drying up. Late-season lilies, for example, bloom into September, and if you live in a warm climate, you may even see butterflies year-round.

Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9, Oriental lilies are fairly easy to grow in containers. The most important step to success is to plant the bulbs deep enough for stem roots to sprout underground. They need at least 2 inches of soil on top of the bulb, so make sure you choose containers that are deep enough to accommodate them. Potting soil or potting mix high in organic matter that drains well and has a pH of 6.5 to 6.8 is ideal.

Place the containers in full sun or partial shade and water sparingly until the shoots are around 3 inches tall. After that, increase watering, keeping the soil moist but not wet. Depending on the size of the bulb and the container, you can plant more than one in each pot. A must-know bulb-planting tip is that the largest bulbs, labeled 16/18, do best when planted by themselves.

Established Oriental lilies don't need much additional care. If they need fertilization, use a liquid formula with a 10-10-10 ratio. Very tall or large blooming varieties will need to be staked as they reach their full height; avoid this chore by choosing dwarf varieties. Do not grow lilies if you have cats unless you're certain you can keep them apart — Oriental lilies are highly toxic to felines.