Stargazer lilies
Oriental lilies such as Stargazer (red & white) or Casablanca (pure white) are easy to care for once they are established in your flower bed. Both are hardy to zone 4-9.
Planting
As the saying goes, “lilies like their heads in the sun and feet in the shade”. Plant Stargazer in full sun/part shade in well-drained, fertile soil that is slightly acidic (ph6). In hot climates lilies prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Too much sun can prematurely fade the flowers.
Plant in early spring or fall, 3 times the depth of the bulb (6-8″). Add a teaspoon of bone meal to the bottom of the hole.
Water
Lilies need a steady moist but not soggy soil. They should get at least 1 inch of water per week from rain or manual watering. In the heat of summer, place 2″ of mulch around the plants to conserve moisture, keep the soil cool and keep the weeds away.
Fertilize with a 10-10-10 twice a year, in early spring and again just before the flowers open.
The sweet scented lilies bloom from mid to late summer ( July-Sept).
They can grow 2 1/2-7 ft tall and may require staking for support.
Trouble shooting:
Aphids- can transmit viral disease,
Bulb mites, weevils and red lily leaf beetle.
Common fungal diseases: Foot rot (Phytophthora cactorum)-stems rot just below soil surface can also attack new shoot tips.
Botrytis elliptica, gray mold-tops of emerging shoots wilt and die.
More info on lilies
http://hortchat.com/info/estimating-bloom-time-for-stargazer-lily
Hi, what im going to do when the buds of the lilies started to turn brown? It’s look like a stain on the buds only. Pls help me..
I have had my oriental lilies planted in the same spot since day one. I don’t fuss over them much at all, and it wasn’t till I just started reading up on them now, that I realized how lucky I’ve been to have them bloom year after year with no problems! I adore them especially for their fragrance…. it’s heavenly, and the favorite part of my entire garden! My problem is, this year when they bloomed, there is no scent, none at all. I’m gobsmacked. AND it looks like two of the blooms that are just about to open are going to be WHITE in color! Could you help me with these issues? Thanks so much!
My lilies got burned by the sun. They haven’t bloomed yet and the leaves are very Brown, still soft though. Will they recover or are they ruined?
Hi! I’ve read up on the care of potted stargazer plants and rebloomg them but what’s unclear to me is if i still need to water it while it’s in its dormant phase (when the blooms have all faded). Or do i just leave it alone? And then, what do i do with it? Do i have to dig up the bulb and replant it? I plan to still have it in a pot coz we don’t have a proper garden (with ground soil and all). Or do i just leave it alone and expect it to just regrow? Thanks in advance for your answer 🙂
Hi! I’ve read up on the care of potted stargazer plants and rebloomg them but what’s unclear to me is if i still need to water it while it’s in its dormant phase (when the blooms have all faded). Or do i just leave it alone? And then, what do i do with it? Do i have to dig up the bulb and replant it? I plan to still have it in a pot coz we don’t have a proper garden (with ground soil and all). Or do i just leave it alone and expect it to just regrow? Thanks in advance for your answer 🙂
I have a non reproducing SG Lily in a raised bed that has been growing for maybe six years now, it is about two feet tall and the newly growing leaves at the tip of the plant are turning black in one spot before they even unravel. we just had a couple of 90 degree days, May 21st and 22ND in Oregon, which is a little early in the year. Could they be getting burned in the sun? I have three other lilies in the same planter that are just fine, and they emerge from the shadows and little bit later in the day.
Hello. I have a quick question. I am in zone 6 and planted some stargazer lilies in April of this year that I got from a nursery. They bloomed wonderfully and about a week or so after the blooms fell off I noticed the leaves are turning yellow and brown. I know this happens to lilies, but thought it would be months from now. I am not over or under watering it, as far as I know. Do you think something is wrong here or can the leaves yellow and brown and fall off early July? Thanks for the help.
Planted several bulbs bought at walmart…came up, but zero blooms.
Now it’s August. ..still nothing.
Day lilies did great.
Planted in good soil, sun/part shade…I’m stumped.
Help!