What soil does Lily grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil.

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Lily toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Lily toxic to cats?

Yes, it is highly toxic to cats: even a small amount can be life-threatening.

When does Lily flower?

Flowering: June–August, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple.

How much water does Lily need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Lily

Lilium × hybridum

Lily (Lilium × hybridum) is a perennial. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Non-toxic to dogs, highly toxic to cats.

Illustration of Lily — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Garden lilies are the showiest flowers of the summer border and are also good for cutting and for large pots. Plant the bulbs in autumn or early spring 10-15 cm deep (about three times the diameter of the bulb), 30 cm apart, in groups of three; potted plants can go in any time from spring to autumn. Head in the sun, feet in the shade: they want rich, well-drained soil that never dries out, so mulch the base or plant low perennials in front. The groups differ a lot: Asiatic hybrids are shorter (60-120 cm), flower first, are the easiest and hardiest, but have no scent; Oriental hybrids flower later and are strongly fragrant, but cope poorly with limy soil; Trumpet and OT hybrids can reach head height, are fragrant, and the tall ones need staking. In a good spot they last for years and slowly multiply by offsets. Remove faded flowers, but cut back stems and leaves only once they have yellowed. If you have a cat, read the toxicity note before planting.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the main pest is the scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii): the beetles and their brownish grubs, covered in their own excrement, eat leaves, buds and flowers from spring to autumn, and after heavy attacks the bulb is so weakened that it fails to flower the next year. Check the plants regularly from spring and pick off the beetles, the orange-red eggs under the leaves and the grubs. Bulbs rot in waterlogged soil, and in wet weather botrytis spots the foliage. Aphids spread incurable viruses (lily mosaic): plants with distorted, streaked leaves have to be discarded. Voles gnaw the bulbs, and tall cultivars can be blown over if not staked.

Highly toxic

Extremely toxic to cats and life-threatening. Every part is dangerous: leaves, stems, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase. Chewing a small piece of leaf or petal, licking pollen off the fur or drinking from the vase is enough to cause acute kidney failure. Early signs (vomiting, drooling, loss of appetite, lethargy) appear within hours, kidney damage develops over one to three days and is fatal without treatment; only prompt veterinary care saves the cat, so go at once if you suspect exposure. If your cat goes outdoors or neighbours' cats visit, it is better not to plant lilies, and do not bring cut lilies indoors. Not toxic to dogs or horses, at most a mild stomach upset. We found no reliable data on effects in people; the pollen stains skin and clothes badly.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.2 m × 40 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–August, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple

All details

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.2 m × 40 cm
Ultimate size	0.3–2.4 m × 25–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–August, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Highly toxic
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Perennials that flower all summer Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants for containers Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

Guide on the topic

A perennial border that flowers all summer: plants, layout, numbers A perennial border flowers from spring to autumn when its backbone is long-flowering perennials that bloom from June to September (catmint, woodland sage, coneflower, yarrow, Russian sage, gaura), with bulbs around them for spring and Japanese anemone, sedum and asters for autumn. Plant in groups of 3-7, tall at the back, low at the front; on average you need 5-7 plants per square metre. The calendars show the hardy perennials for a sunny spot that shops in your country sell most widely, with the price per plant.

Looks good next to it

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