Asked on May 29, 2013

Lilium 'After Eight': Flowers

Jim Ginas
by Jim Ginas
Are these flowers only a few weeks of the year or do they last long enough to buy and plant? I'd hate to plant these and find out the flowers only bloom for a few weeks, then die.
Lilium 'After Eight'
  24 answers
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on May 29, 2013
    The Asiatic lily 'After Eight' is hard zones 4-9. So it should live in your area. Now you have to ask yourself do you have a place for it in your garden. They bloom for about a limited time each year as do most perennials. I think it is beautiful and absolutely worth planting........if you have a suitable place in your garden.
  • Ava Landscapes Ava Landscapes on May 30, 2013
    Very showy and fragrant, but only bloom for a few weeks each year...
  • Lori J Lori J on May 30, 2013
    Donna and Ava are on the money but, despite a short blooming season, these beauties are absolutely stunning. They spread quickly and the foliage remains nice, serving as a filler in a garden.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on May 30, 2013
    I got no more than two weeks worth of blooms from my Oriental lilies when I had them in my New York garden, but, oh, that fragrance, and they make a very long-lasting cut flower.
  • Jill Jill on May 30, 2013
    They only bloom about once a year, usually in early spring you will notice them coming back in. Hence the common nick name Easter Lily. Put it in your yard and enjoy!
  • Lori J Lori J on May 30, 2013
    Easter Lilies are white and much taller. This is an oriental.
  • Katt Katt on May 30, 2013
    I have several of these lilys in my garden and I love them. They multiply and form a nice clumps. Each bloom last for a week plus but as they multiply they will be blooming at slightly different times. I have a nice show that last for several weeks. I live in zone 8A.
  • Penster47 Penster47 on May 30, 2013
    I bought some several years ago, loved that beautiful pink color, then after about 3 years of beautiful blooms, they "reverted" to pinkish orange and have been that ever since. They are gorgeous though, even though they don't bloom all summer.
  • Sue Weiker Sue Weiker on May 30, 2013
    They are so fragrant, and so beautiful, they are absolutely worthwhile. I grow a dozen different kind so asiatic lilies, and they're show is spectacular
  • Leah Belverd Leah Belverd on May 31, 2013
    Though the packaging said 'Stargazer', I believe Douglas has pointed out that these 'After Eight's are actually what I have. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/-1543444?cid=304328 I would say they are very much worthwhile. As others have said, they are absolutely beautiful with BIG bright and VERY fragrant blooms. Even though they may only bloom for several weeks, even the plant itself (the greenery) is beautiful and will add to any garden. If you are interested, I'd say try them out! The bulbs are pretty inexpensive-so you won't be losing much monetarily even if you decide you don't like them!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on May 31, 2013
    Penster, you have Asiatic lilies, which bloom earlier in the season than the Oriental lilies Jim is contemplating.
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on May 31, 2013
    ok, I'll pick 'em up and plant in two areas of my yard! Thanks all!
  • Gwen Gwen on May 31, 2013
    i like the annual visit of these each year when I have almost forgotten them. To me its well worth planting even if the show is short.
  • Penster47 Penster47 on May 31, 2013
    Douglas, they were sold as Oriental Lily and WERE the beautiful pink as in Jim's photo, but only for about 2 or 3 years, then they came up the pinkish orange color that they are in my photo. I wish I had pic's of them the first year they bloomed so you could see what I mean.
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on May 31, 2013
    I love oriental lilies. Even if they only bloom a few weeks, it is worth it and as Katt said, if you have several, the blooms stagger!
  • Lumen Castaneda Lumen Castaneda on May 31, 2013
    i have them all around the tiny garden but I love them for their fragrance and beauty especially if they are clustered. After they flower leave them and they will be back the following year doubled.
  • Kathy Koke-Drum Kathy Koke-Drum on Jun 02, 2013
    Have a number of these beauties, in a variety of colors, in my garden. Plant closer together than they suggest because they grow tall, have strong stalks, however, they can support each other better. My 1st yr. I had to support the plants with steel rods. I have an area that is designated my Lily Garden with various species. Have replanted the exotic ones more in a triangle closer together. The blooms are absolutely beautiful & large. The multiply easily, yet don't take over ever area available. This may be just a repeat of what you have already been told. Hint: When the plants bloom & it's time to remove the spent bloom, cut the plant down to about 3 ft. high. it will keep the lush green of it's leaves & still enhance your garden. Good luck & hope you take a chance on these.
  • Jan jude Jan jude on Jun 02, 2013
    There are several kinds of hardy lilies which can extend the bloom season. Asiatics (which multiply the most) bloom first, then LAs (a cross of Asiatics and Easter lilies) then the orientals. There are also trumpets, orienpets, species (such as the beautiful rubrums) which overlap the bloom of others. Here in Minnesota I have true lily bloom from mid June thru late July. Check out an online lily catalog for inspiration.
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on Jun 11, 2013
    so we bought a pot of three Oriental Lillies and also one pot of "Tiny Ghost Asiatic Lillies".. planted Orientals out front in ground in the Flower bed, dead front & center, and the other in the back, behind the pool in a pot.
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on Jun 23, 2013
    so BOTH plants seem to have taken well BUT the Oriental Lillies lost their FLOWERS in the first heavy rain, so HOPEFULLY they grow back next year! The Tiny Ghost Asiatic Lillies just lost their flowers. We'll see!
  • Jim Ginas Jim Ginas on Jun 29, 2013
    ?? So did the plants just LOSE the flowers OR are Rabbits or something EATING THEM???
  • Jill Jill on Jun 30, 2013
    No, they just lost their flowers. Typical at this time of year. They don't bloom year round.
  • Lumen Castaneda Lumen Castaneda on Jun 30, 2013
    From my experience the Oriental lillies flower later than the lillium and are not as prolific as the the later. My Asiatic lilies are all over the place but not the Oriental Lillies.
  • Jud1016678 Jud1016678 on Jun 20, 2015
    These are my favorite of all lillies but they don't last long! They smell HEAVENLY ¡! all PhPhill THESE ARE MY FAVORITE OF THE DAYLILLIES BUT THEY. DON'T LAST LONG! THE SMELL IS.HEAVENLY! S