What would you choose as the top 3 lilies to have?

I am fairly new to these but have been lurking and fine them very beautiful. Of cource I have had Stargazer and it is wonderful. Do moles eat these? I lost mine somehow. I do have lovely old fashion tiger lilies.
Help out a newbie please

It really all depends on what you like, but here is the latest list from the North American Lily Society popularity poll.

Hall of fame Winners
1. Black Beauty
2. Casa Blanca
3. Connecticut King
4. Enchantment
5. Journey's End
6. Leslie Woodriff
7. Northern Carillon/Silk Road
8. Red Velvet
9. Scheherazade
10. White Henryi

I have some favorites that I'm always happy to see each year. I love Butter Pixie, Pisa, Cathedral Windows, and Centerfold for Asiatics. New Wave and Madrid for LAs, Midnight and White Herald's Angel for Trumpet, Silk Road for Orienpet and almost every Oriental I've ever seen. I love all the yellow and coppery colored trumpets and all the delicate Turk Caps remind me of butterflies. I love the delicate coloring of the LOs like Sea Treasure and Triumphator and many of the species are just breathtaking in their simplicity of form and color. Let's face it, I love them all. It's easier to say what I don't like. I'm not fond of the Asiatic doubles and there's a new series of asiatics that may need to grow on me. I think they are called Tangos, but this is just my preference.

Lilies have several different predators including squirrels and mice. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that moles have an appetite for them too. In another thread, people are discussing Irish Spring soap shavings as a method to keep the squirrels away. Some people plant their bulbs in little wire cages.

In my zone, orientals can be difficult because of our weather. Often they are lucky to survive 3 years.

Hope this helps. Be sure to replace your Stargazer and you should try several of the other classes. You won't be sorry.

Another thing to consider is that most asiatics multiply readily over a few years and orientals do not. This is could make a difference if you have space to fill or if you'd rather they 'stay in their place'.

We can give you so many of our favorites that it would make your head spin! So to help you best ~ what is most important to you? Particular colors? Does fragrance matter? What about height ~ lilies are generally 3 - 4 ft. but would you like something especially tall (8 - 10) or some shorties (2 ft.) ? Big flowers, little flowers...?

Frangrance is always a plus. The medium height is what I am looking for 3-4 ft. I have a little yellow shortie one Lollipop maybe. I didn't write it down. I love big and showy blooms!

What is a good source?
Thanks,
Teresa

Then I would go for Asiatics, LAs and Orientals. I think most of the Trumpets and Orienpets get taller. American Meadows has a sale on right now. The Lily Nook, B and D Lilies, The Lily Garden are all good sites or just search on-line for sites that sell lily bulbs. Check the Garden Watch Dog for sites you are unfamilar with before you buy anything.

I don't think your yellow is Lollypop. This is Lollypop:

Who can choose 3. Buy a bag of mixed Asiatics and Orientals. Here is a new to me Asiatic Corrida.

How is that for some color!!

Angie

Sooo pretty ~ Hi Puddles!

bluegrass you have moles too? my garden is a maze of tunnels, and of course they come to the surface too often! I had some Stargazer by my West wall, and last spring as they were growing they were mowed off through the stem. I don't know if they ate the bulb or just dug their way through the stem, but I had got less! My orientals there all suffered, it could have been too dry, but they nearly disappeared so I got one of each and put them in a pot, only small but have now flowered. Some seed made too. but I forgot to take it 1st year in the pot, last year there was a small pod so I buried them next to momma. I think they do eat them, I also had 3 L Casa Blanca, one seems to have disappeared completely. They possibly have a preference for individual verieties. They drive me nuts! not as bad as gopher I hear...

I would like to try a small trade for a variety of lilies, I have lots of plants that are never listed on my trade page. LMK
Thanks,
Teresa

hi everyone,
moles eat grubs and earthworms. they don't eat plants, but they do have a negative effect in that they can leave the roots exposed or tunnel right through your delicate stems. now voles, field mice, love to eat lily bulbs actually most all bulbs. i found out more than i wanted to about these little creatures last spring, when they had a field day on my garden beds. they ate over 150 lily bulbs and a whole lot of other plants and bulbs too. so my voles are gourmet voles. LOL the voles do use the mole runways as there super highways though, munching along there way. arrrgh!!!

here is a page that will show you a pic of a vole and a bit of info on them.
http://www.pitcherplant.com/diseas/voles.html

a google search will lead you to a lot of info.

now as for my favorite lilies. i would have to say the orientals because they have a wonderful smell that just permeates the garden, they range in size from 18" to 8' tall. the blossoms are huge and come in a wide range of colors. i have met an asiatic i haven't liked, but i haven't met an oriental i haven't liked. :)
i adore all lilies, but i'm glad i started with some that were less expensive and filled my garden with lots of color and taught me a lot about the species. until the voles, i had every famiy of lilies in my garden beds, now......not so, but hopefully again one day soon.
here is a page about growing lilies, the do's and don'ts.
http://coco.essortment.com/growinglilies_rxwx.htm
enjoy debi z

Hmm top three?

I would say I like Asiatic "Chianti" - it's tough, reliable, and tons of blooms year after yeay. Then maybe OT's "Silk Road" and "Futura" - very reliable perennials and hold up to the heat quite well.

My all time favorite is Casa Blanca, followed by a tall un-named pale peach colored Asiatic that I got somewhere and wish I knew the name of - it is so beautiful in part shade. I love my Black Beauties - this past year they leaped so to speak, and made almost 6 ' and loaded with flowers - and doubled the # of stalks. I planted Lilies speciosum rubra and alba last year and just bought more - from the photos they will be favorites. I like Oriental lily 'Lovely Girl' and 'Garden Party'.

I bought bulbs at Costco again this year - they are great quality and the least expensive I've seen anywhere. Bought a bag of mixed L.A. Hybrids 18 for $9 (red, white, yellow, pink, violet),
and a bag of mixed Orientals - 15 for $9 in yellows, whites and pinks. These bloomed first year for me when I bought from Costco last year. I will grow them up to see the colors and then edit!

I bought Chianti from Van Bourgondien about 6 yrs ago and always wondered if I actually got Chianti or something else. It was very brick red, not the dark burgundy I was hoping for.

Speaking of photos - that pic of Lollypop was really pretty - that would move me to buy it but the stock photo that every grower uses turns me off - I've never seen it in person.

alyrics, your Chianti was definitely mislabled; it should be pink.

I planted 'Scheherezade' last spring and it's awsome! Also planted 'Silk Road' and am really excited to see it this year-the few blooms last summer were huge and amazing. Both are said to be very vigorous and easy to grow.

Neal

Neal where are you buying your lilies? I can only find the Walmart ones here.

Top three presently are: Casa Blanca (pictured), Lady Alice, and Stargazer. Garden's 25 varieties of lily will have an additional 11 new ones planted this past fall. Thusly, by the coming fall my present top 3 might change.

Casa Blanca and Stargazer are certainly on the top of my list.

Beautiful Casablanca, jmorth!

thanks

Hi Everyone! I'm Pam --

Was just walking by and noticed your beautiful Lilies - Wow!

Our yard is mostly shade so... Lilies have a hard time, but I still grow them in a few spots --or sometimes in pots so I can move them to the sunshine

- Also, we have a few bunny families in our yard and they are VERY inconsiderate-- Any new ideas or help for battling the rascally rabbits?

Hi Pam

I have had the occasion baby bunny in the garden, mostly when I have young peas. I stake the peas anyway, and just run a garden net around both sides to the ground, using the twiggy sticks to hook it on further up. You could try putting a ring of wire mesh around plants, some plants would benefit from that too and use it to hold them up.

Janet

Thanks so much Janet-- I've tried everything from hair to crushed red pepper to blood meal-- We have very large bunny families(aunts, uncles, etc..). They seem to wait until the blooms are just read to open and then bite the stalk off-- They were horrible last year and I lost almost every lily I planted - I'm planning to make the "hardware store" trip this weekend-- I generally don't like to put fences around plants, but if it will save them.. I'll give it a try. Thanks again!
Pam

The bunnies ate every leaf off of 2 of my roses a few springs ago. I eventually had to put little fences around them. The bunnies went away when my neighbor got an outdoor cat who loves hanging out in my yard!

Merry Merry is trying an experiment with Irish Spring soap shavings to deter squirrels. Haven't heard back whether this works or not, but maybe the rabbits would also take offense. Couldn't hurt to try.

Thanks Beaker-- I'm willing to try almost anything -- I use to see rabbits as "cute" - now I have a whole different perspective -- Our yard has become a "critter sanctuary" - We have birds, bunnies, racoons, squirrels, chipmunks -- One day there was a wild turkey standing next to our bird bath getting a drink. I don't mind - Most of them are fun to watch when we sit on our deck and enjoy our yard-- I just wish they didn't have an appetite for my plants. -- I appreciate any advice -

Oh-- & back to the original question-- A few of my favorites are Stargazer, Lollipops and I think the Madonna Lilies are beautiful, but mine never lived past the early stage-- I guess something ate them -
Thanks again for sharing Beaker.

Hi Pam, and welcome to DG!

How are you using the bloodmeal? I too, have terrible problem with yard rodents. They used to be cute until they went after my lilies. I wouldn't even mind them nibbling the leaves but when they chomp off whole stalks....grrr!

Hi Moby- I used it last year--per the advice of a local nursery. I sprinkled it around the plants-- I really don't think it helped much. They said that rabbits don't like the smell of it and it would keep them away, but every time it rained, you had to re-apply--

Some of these pesky rabbits have been in our yard so long, they don't even run away when you yell at them.

Anyway- I'm going to try some other methods this year as I'm determined to "Save My Lilies". I'll let you know if anything works-- Thanks for your "welcome" - DG is a FUN place. I'm loving it!

The only thing that makes my bunnies run is when I cock the BB gun. They've gotten used to that sound. I tried all of the folk remedies ~ hair, cat hair etc.. Liquid Fence works pretty well but what works even better is Plantskydd. A couple of applications should cover you for the whole season. Once when they're emerging and then when they get a bit taller. I found it at may local Earl May and it's available on-line too.

Thanks again - I'll give it try. It's wonderful to have a place to go for advice! I'll let you know how/if it works.

Please do!

Hi Everyone,

Just wandered over from Rose Forum and enjoyed your posts. I have a few summers of lilies under my belt and I adore them. Until last summer when the bunnies located my yard! They literly terrorized me and my lilies. I was brokenhearted!! The only ones that I saved were the ones I encased in chicken wire. My lilies are mixed in my rose/perennial gardens so I wrapped stems individually!! I will be better prepared this year with more wire. I will win this battle!!! I will also try plantskyd. They laughed at Liquid Fence,bounce sheets,cayenne pepper and blood meal. I will not quit trying,tho.Keep posting successful actions, I`m all ears. Lesley

bluegrass, I tend to pick them up all over, but I have quit buying them from Walmart or Lowes. I got a few choice varieties from The Lily Garden, but I'm cheap, so I really shop around. Brent&Becky's, Buggycrazy, some local nurseries, and a couple of ebay sellers have been the sources of my latest aquisitions. This summer when I see if the ebay bulbs were labeled correctly, I'll know if I want to shop with them again. The other sources have been great.

All these bunny horror stories are putting me in mind of "The Curse of the Wererabbit". I thought they were safe after the young, tender stage. Pam, how awful to see them budding and then have them chomped! Makes me feel like Elmer Fudd, "wanna kill da wabbit"!

I used to think they were after the tender stuff, too. Until the varmints chomped off a stalk at least the size of a dime.....

I guess if I start having bunny problems, Colby and Little Joe, our beagles may get a vacation out of the pen.

OK-- I bought some fencing material this weekend.

I'm also going to try the Plantskydd-- Is it a spray?

I have a lot of other plants that need protecting and I don't think I want to fence in every little plant.. so I'm going to try a little bit of everything and see what works best.

I'm going to be ready for them wascally wabbits this year!!

I appreciate everyone's input and advice.

Yes, Plantskydd is a spray. It dissipates but be warned ~ it stinks!

We also have a rabbit, my husband calls him Stew.
I ordered most of my oriental lilies from Dutch Gardens. Muscadet has huge white, pink blushed blooms, and a wonderful aroma. I also have Stargazer, Mona lisa, Casa blanca, Lovely girl, Acapolco, Nippon, Aubade, Dizzy and Black beauty. I think they all smell good!

I love my Oreintals, but they are a bit tempermantal.

Italia is an asiatic that loves to bloom & add babies. 4 1/2 foot tall. Even managed to escape bunny buffet last year.

Just gorgeous, Wanda!

If I had to choose only 3 lilies, I would probably get one asiatic, one oriental and then either one of the species or one of the newer orienpets.

I think I would choose
a) asiatic lily grand paradiso, cancun, grand cru or centerfold

b) oriental star gazer, san souci,

c1) either a species like speciosum rubum, henryi

if you instead want orienpets then consider
c2) shocking, albany or american dream

My choices would probably beL
1) grand paradiso
2) san souci
3) henryi (species) or shocking (ot)


Shown is asiatic lily Grand Paradiso

Here is henryi (species)

Here is san soucsi (oriental)