Looking to add some wow factor to your garden? Yellow Asiatic lilies with red spots might just be your perfect match! These eye-catching beauties combine sunny yellow petals with dramatic red spotting to create a truly spectacular display I’ve grown these stunning lilies for years, and let me tell you – they never fail to make visitors stop and stare!
Why Choose Yellow Spotted Asiatic Lilies?
These lilies offer some serious advantages for home gardeners:
- Bold Visual Impact: The contrast between bright yellow petals and ruby-red spots creates an instant focal point
- Extended Blooming: Unlike some fussy flowers, these lilies bloom for several weeks in early to mid-summer
- Low Maintenance: Once established, they need minimal care to thrive
- Excellent Cut Flowers: The blooms last over a week in vases
- Wide Growing Range: Adaptable to USDA zones 3-8
- Versatile Height: Varieties range from 12 inches to 48 inches tall
Popular Yellow-Red Spotted Varieties
We’ve tested many varieties over the years and these are our top picks
Grand Cru
- Height: 24-36 inches
- Bloom Color: Buttery yellow with dark burgundy centers
- Special Features: Award-winning variety, excellent for borders
Brushstroke
- Height: 36-48 inches
- Bloom Color: Yellow-green with burgundy streaking
- Special Features: Dramatic brush-like markings
King Pete
- Height: 24-36 inches
- Bloom Color: Soft yellow with brown freckles
- Special Features: Royal Horticultural Society Award winner
Push Off
- Height: 24-36 inches
- Bloom Color: Creamy yellow with burgundy spots
- Special Features: Great container plant
Growing Tips for Success
Here’s what I’ve learned about keeping these beauties happy
Sunlight & Soil
- Full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours direct sun)
- Well-draining, fertile soil
- Slightly acidic pH (6.5-7.0)
- Add organic matter when planting
Planting
- Plant bulbs in fall
- Depth: 2-3 times bulb height
- Spacing: 9-12 inches apart
- Point the pointy end up!
Ongoing Care
- Water regularly during growing season
- Mulch to retain moisture
- Feed with balanced fertilizer after blooming
- Remove spent blooms but leave foliage
- Divide clumps every 3-4 years
Design Ideas for Your Garden
Here’s how we love using these showstoppers:
- Mass Plantings: Group 5-7 bulbs together for maximum impact
- Border Designs: Plant taller varieties in the middle, shorter ones in front
- Container Gardens: Choose compact varieties like ‘Tiny Bee’
- Color Combinations:
- Pair with purple salvias for striking contrast
- Mix with other lily varieties
- Plant near blue delphiniums
Common Problems & Solutions
Even these tough plants can have issues sometimes:
Potential Problems
- Botrytis blight (reddish-brown spots)
- Root rot from overwatering
- Flopping stems in wind
- Cat toxicity concerns
Solutions
- Ensure good air circulation
- Don’t overwater
- Stake tall varieties
- Keep away from cats
My Personal Experience
I’ll never forget the first time I planted ‘Grand Cru’ in my garden – the neighbors literally stopped their cars to ask what those gorgeous flowers were! While they take a bit of patience (waiting for fall planting isn’t easy!), the reward is so worth it.
Tips for Cut Flowers
Want to bring these beauties indoors? Here’s what works for me:
- Cut stems early morning
- Remove lower leaves
- Change water every 2-3 days
- Keep away from direct sun
- Remove stamens to prevent pollen stains
Final Thoughts
Asian lilies that are yellow with red spots are some of the most beautiful flowers you can grow. They’re tough enough for new gardeners but pretty enough to impress more experienced ones. You should include these lilies in your planting plans whether you’re making a new garden or wanting to spice up an old one.
Remember, success with these lilies comes down to three main things: good drainage, adequate sunlight, and a little patience. Get those right, and you’ll have a gorgeous display that keeps getting better year after year!
Are you ready to start growing? In the fall, your local garden center should have bulbs for sale. This is the best time to plant for a beautiful show next summer.
Have you ever grown spotted Asiatic lilies? Tell us about it in the comments!
Tiny Yellow Sensation Asiatic Lily
Lilum Tiny Yellow Sensation
Tiny Yellow Sensation is a dramatic variety that shows off yellow flowers speckled in rich burgundy. It grows about 20 inches tall. Zones 3-8.
Tiny Skyline Asiatic Lily
A low-growing variety, Tiny Skyline reaches about 16 inches tall and produces bright orange flowers in early summer. Zones 3-8.
Lilies 101: Care, Types and Handling
FAQ
Do Asiatic lilies like full sun or shade?
Asiatic lilies thrive in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. For optimal growth and flowering, they need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
What is a yellow canna lily with red spots?
Canna ‘Cleopatra’ (Canna Lily) A very unusual Canna, ‘Cleopatra’ produces large, incredibly eye-catching yellow flowers adorned with red spots, or red flowers, or even flowers bearing a combination of both.
How do you keep Asiatic lilies blooming all summer?
To keep Asiatic lilies blooming all summer, ensure they receive at least six hours of sunlight daily and have well-draining soil. Deadhead spent blooms to prevent seed pod formation, which diverts energy from future flowering. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to bulb rot.
What is the difference between an Asiatic lily and a daylily?
Asiatic lilies and daylilies, while both popular garden plants, are distinct. Asiatic lilies (genus Lilium) are true lilies, characterized by their bulb-based growth, diverse colors, and lack of fragrance, blooming in early summer.