Lily 'Defender Pink'LiliumOriental Lily

Oriental lilies prefer a moist, free draining, neutral to acid soil that is rich in organic matter. Prior to planting, add plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost to the soil to give your lilies the best start. When growing lilies in containers, use a loam based compost such as John Innes No.2. Lily bulbs should be planted at a depth of approximately 3 times their own height and 15cm (6") apart. Planting deeply helps to protect the bulb during particularly hot periods. Choose a sheltered, sunny position where lilies will grow with their heads in the sun and their roots in the shade.

Feed and water oriental lily bulbs regularly throughout the growing season, keeping them moist at all times. Deadhead faded blooms at the base of the flower where they join the stem to prevent the development of seed pods. When cutting oriental lily flowers for indoor arrangements, it is important to leave a third of the stem intact in order to feed the bulb for the following year.

After flowering leave the stems intact until they begin to yellow in autumn. Reduce watering and move containers of lilies to a cool, frost free position over winter. Lilies grown in borders can be lifted, cleaned and stored for the winter, however in mild areas most lilies should survive outdoors provided that the soil is not too wet. A mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost should be applied in spring. Divide and repot container grown lilies into fresh compost every other year.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.