SKU: 00840369420725 3 After Eight Oriental Lily (Lilium orientalis 'After Eight') Bulbs

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Upright, bulb-forming perennial with sturdy stems and glossy, lance-shaped foliage.
• Bloom Color: Large white flowers with deep burgundy-red centers, crimson speckles, and a lime-green throat.
• Fragrance: Strong, sweet, classic Oriental lily fragrance.
• Fruit Flavor: None; ornamental plant that may produce decorative seed capsules if flowers are left on the stems.
• Culinary Uses: None; not edible.
• Medicinal Uses: No recognized medicinal uses.
• Possible Toxicity: Highly toxic to cats. All parts of the plant—including flowers, pollen, leaves, stems, and bulbs—can cause severe kidney failure if ingested by cats. Ingestion may also cause mild gastrointestinal upset in dogs and humans.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. Moderately resistant to deer and rabbits, although young shoots and flower buds may occasionally be browsed. Monitor for aphids, slugs, snails, and lily leaf beetles.
• Planting Zone: Hardy in USDA Zones 4–9.
• Sun Preferences: Full sun to partial shade; performs best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily while benefiting from cool, mulched roots.
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate; prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil but tolerates brief dry periods once established.
• Mature Size: Typically grows 30–40 inches tall with a spread of 12–18 inches.

When and How to Prune

• Remove faded flowers after blooming to prevent seed production and direct energy back into the bulb.
• Leave healthy foliage in place until it naturally yellows and dies back to allow the bulb to store nutrients for the following season.
• Cut stems back to ground level in late fall after the foliage has completely withered.
• Remove damaged or diseased foliage during the growing season to improve plant health and airflow.

Planting Instructions (Bulbs into the Ground)

1. Plant bulbs in fall or early spring while the soil is cool and workable.
2. Choose a location with fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.
3. Dig a hole 6–8 inches deep, measuring from the top of the bulb to the soil surface.
4. Position the bulb with the pointed end facing upward.
5. Space bulbs 10–12 inches apart to provide room for mature growth and good air circulation.
6. Backfill with soil, gently firm around the bulb, and water thoroughly after planting.
7. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and help keep the root zone cool.
8. Water regularly during active growth, maintaining evenly moist but never waterlogged soil.

Overwintering Steps

• After Eight Oriental Lily is winter hardy in USDA Zones 4–9 and can remain in the ground throughout winter.
• Allow the foliage to die back naturally after the first hard frost before removing it.
• Cut stems to ground level once the foliage has completely yellowed.
• Apply a 2–4 inch layer of mulch after the ground freezes to protect bulbs from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
• Remove excess mulch gradually in early spring as new shoots emerge.
• Ensure the planting site has excellent drainage to prevent bulb rot during wet winter weather.
• Divide mature clumps every 3–5 years in fall if flowering becomes less vigorous or bulbs become overcrowded.

Elegant, fragrant, and remarkably dependable, After Eight Oriental Lily brings refined beauty and luxurious fragrance to the late-summer garden. Its striking white-and-burgundy blooms, strong stems, and reliable perennial performance make it an outstanding choice for borders, cutting gardens, and patio containers, where it will provide years of spectacular floral displays.