With their pink and white flowers that have the appearance of a star burst, "Stargazer" lilies (Lilium "Stargazer") make a dramatic addition to the garden. These summer-blooming bulbs are a variety of Oriental lily, which thrive in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 10. Like many other bulbs, you have the option of planting "Stargazer" lilies in either the spring or fall.
Fall is the ideal time to plant "Stargazer" lilies in the ground. This gives the bulbs time to put down roots before winter sets in. This is also an excellent time to divide and transplant any established lilies you have in your garden. New bulbs should be planted as soon as possible after buying them. Try to plant in early fall when the weather is still pleasant and before heavy rains make your soil too wet to work.
If the weather turns nasty in the fall before you can get your lilies in the ground, you can wait until spring to plant them. Until you are able to plant, keep your bulbs in dry straw or sawdust in a dark, cold location such as an unheated garage. When your soil is workable in early spring, you can plant your lilies. Workable soil means that when you squeeze a handful of dirt, it crumbles. If your soil forms a solid ball or drizzles mud when squeezed, it is too wet to be worked. Spring is also the right time to plant "Stargazer" lilies in containers.
Preparing to Plant
Like other Oriental lilies, "Stargazer" lilies prefer to be in a partially shaded area of the garden. The plants tolerate morning and evening sun, but should receive dappled shade during the afternoon. Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches. These bulbs do best in soil with a pH of 6.5; working compost or other organic matter into the soil before planting will help lower the pH slightly, loosen the soil and add nutrients to help your lilies thrive.
If transplanting, wait until the foliage has turned yellow before uprooting the plants. This allows the foliage to provide energy to the bulb and leads to a stronger plant the following year. Before planting, examine your bulbs. Discard any bulbs that feel mushy or appear withered. Lily bulbs are made up of numerous scales. During shipping or digging some of the outer scales may get injured. Remove the injured scales and then place the bulbs in a cold, dark place for three to four hours or overnight before planting. This gives the bulb time to form a callus at the site of the removed scales. When planting "Stargazer" lilies, plant them to a depth of two and a half times their diameter, about 6 to 8 inches for average-sized bulbs.
- The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, editor; 2012
- Wisconsin Master Gardener Program: "Stargazer" Lily
- Iowa State University Extension: Growing Garden Lilies
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