Lilies and Shade

Dappled shade, bright, indirect light or an Eastern exposure is best for Oriental lilies, especially if summer temperatures average in the upper 90's. To keep bulbs cool, use light-colored mulch to reflect heat, or plant shallow-rooted perennials near, not against, stems. Avoid rank-growing, invasive plants or perennials which smother emerging sprouts in the spring and overhanging trees and shrubs which steal light and nutrients. Asiatic and Trumpets will also grow in light shade, but upward facing Asiatic lilies are usually not as graceful-looking as Orientals or Trumpets when leaning toward the sun. If stems "stretch" more than you like, you can either stake plants or move bulbs to a sunnier location in early winter.