please help me find one...

I absolutely love the fragrance of oriental lilies. I almost bought some bulbs on impulse this weekend but I held myself as I'm not even sure they'll grow in my zone?
Are there any varieties that would do well enough here in so Cal (zone 10b / sunset 24)?
Please help, I've never had lilies before except in a vase! lol!

Check the plants out on this web site. Lots of info there. http://buggycrazy.vstore.ca/index.php/cName/lily-bulbs-oriental-lilies

I understand orders are placed sometime in August .

MollyD

Rob, I would think the best thing to do would be to write to one of the big growers and ask if they will grow in your zone.

Try Buggy or Lily Garden, or write the North American Lily Society...

Diann

Thanks guys, I was already wondering if anybody at all would help me on this! : ) I will check those sources!

Not that we would ignore you, but our weather just isn't as warm as yours and don't know how to advise you. Hope you finds something that works. :)

Thanks Moby!

People in the deep south tell me that OT's do best for them in the heat. And they are fragrant also.

Mainiac, pardon my ignorance..but what are OTs?

Hello. I'm in Zone 10b in LA County and planted oriental and trumpet lilies last year. I'm pretty new to gardening, new here, and my experience with lilies is super limited since I just planted lilies last year for the first time, but here goes, just in case it's somewhat helpful.

For Zone 10 info for lilies, the best website I have found is www.easytogrowbulbs.com (same company as willowcreekgardens.com) -- sorry but I don't know how to create links yet. They are located in southern California ("just north of San Diego" according to the website) and their zone info for the lilies they carry is broken down into S and W. So, I believe that for all of the lilies that easytogrowbulbs (not willow creek) carries, the website includes Zone 10 in the west. (I haven't ordered lilies from them yet, but I recently purchased dahlia tubers from them and am extremely pleased with those!) They orientals they carry include Casa Blanca, Muscadet, Stargazer, Starfighter, Barbaresco and Lombardia.

The orientals that I planted are Casa Blanca, Muscadet and Arabian Red. I also planted trumpet lilies, Pink Perfection and Black Dragon, and also Triumphator, which I think is an OT (oriental and trumpet hybrid I believe), and some asiatics. Triumphator and the Asiatics (which I think have little or no fragrance) were left in the ground and have all re-sprouted with nice thick stems.

With the orientals and trumpet lilies, since this was my first try, just to be safe, I dug them up in December and stored them in the refrigerator for about two months and then replanted them -- they have all sprouted and are growing very nicely too. Before digging them up, however, I noticed that many of the orientals I had were already showing signs of producing a new sprout, so I have decided that this year, I will not dig those up. I still plan to dig up the trumpet lilies (and the Arabian Red oriental). But I am definitely going to leave Casa Blanca and Muscadet (and Triumphator and all the Asiatics, which I think are mostly fine in zone 10 anyway) in the ground this year. I believe that all of the lily bulbs listed on the easytogrowbulbs website (but not the willowcreekgardens website; there are some differences in what's available between the two sites) can be left in the ground in Zone 10W.

Anyway, I think they will be able to answer your question about which orientals will perform well in our zone. I hope you find what you're looking for!

Hi preciousblooms, and welcome! Thanks for coming to the rescue.

Hi there! Thanks for the welcome!

Yes, preciousblooms, has it correct. An OT is an Oriental Trumpet hybrid. But I think Triumphator is an LO (Longiflorum Oriental hybrids) Longiflorum are the ones used for Easter.

Thanks preciousblooms! Are OTs fragrant? I How about LOs? I always buy lillies for my home, the fragrance is addicting! I just had no clue what the ones sold for flower arrangements were...(and boy are they expensive or what!!)

I think LOs are supposed to be fragrant, but I'm not sure about OTs. Those with way more experience than me could better answer that question. :)

I did notice that Triumphator had a nice fragrance, but the Orientals I had were definitely the most fragrant. My absolute favorite oriental from my limited selection last year was Arabian Red (followed closely by CasaBlanca). The color of Arabian Red and fragrance were amazing.

Very expensive indeed! Last year, I ordered Pink Perfection, Muscadet, and I think Casa Blanca when Brent and Becky's Bulbs had their 50% off sale. The selection was more limited, especially on newer varieties, but I was thrilled to be able to order those on sale, and I was extremely pleased with the quality of the bulbs. I also ordered some Casa Blanca bulbs from "beautifulgardens" on e-bay and all of those did very well too; I think they also have a website at www.plantsandbulbs.com. I ordered Triumphator and another variety that I can't recall from www.bdlilies.com and Arabian Red from www.lilypadbulbs.com. I was actually very fortunate that they all did well!

Fragrant OTs that come to mind

Silk Road
Anastasia
Geisha Girl
Maywood
Conca d'Oro
Bravura
Albany
Robina
There are more, but those are ones that come to mind right away.

Any Lo that I have grown, including Triumphator was extremely fragrant. Coming from the Easter Lily x an oriental you will have great chance for excellent fragrance.